Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

Standing tall at the intersection of Brambleton Avenue and Church Street, the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial pays tribute to the great civil rights leader.

This site was chosen due to its history as the center of business and culture for Norfolk’s Black community dating back to the early 1900s. Conceived in 1975 by Councilman Joseph A. Jordan, Jr., the monument is designed to inspire future generations to learn about King and live their lives according to his teachings.

The original design called for a 155-foot high tower, but slow funding resulted in the shorter height of 83 feet, though even at the lower height, the memorial towers over its surroundings.

The memorial’s four sides are inscribed with some of King’s famous quotes and features a waterfall in its base.

The monument was moved away in late 2020 so that repairs could be made after the steel supports and the adhesive for the granite slabs at the bottom of the monument began to degrade. It was returned to its home in August 2021.