STATEMENT OF IRA HUTCHISON, ACTING DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS
AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR., NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO APPEAR BEFORE YOUR SUBCOMMITTEE TODAY
TO TESTIFY IN BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S BILL TO ESTABLISH A MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR., NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
DR. KING'S TRAGIC DEATH ON APRIL 4, 1968, DEPRIVED OUR NATION OF ONE OF
ITS GREATEST LEADERS--A MAN WHO HAD DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SOCIAL CHANGE
TOWARD EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL AMERICANS THROUGH NON-VIOLENCE. ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE COMPLEX OF BUILDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH DR. KING'S LIFE AND WORK AS
A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE WILL ASSURE CONTINUED PRESERVATION AND INTERPRETATION
OF THIS IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THE EXISTING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., HISTORIC DISTRICT WAS NOMINATED AS
AN HISTORIC DISTRICT AND ACCEPTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC
PLACES ON MAY 2, 1974, AND INCLUDES THE PROPOSED NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
AND THE PROPOSED PRESERVATION DISTRICT. ITS SIGNIFICANCE WAS FURTHER
RECOGNIZED IN 1977, WHEN SECRETARY ANDRUS DESIGNATED IT AS A NATIONAL
HISTORIC LANDMARK. WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY
OF THIS AREA OVER A PERIOD OF MANY MONTHS.
THE PROPOSED NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE WOULD ENCOMPASS 23.5 ACRES GENERALLY
BOUNDED BY JACKSON, EDGEWOOD, HOWELL AND OLD WHEAT STREETS. THE FOCAL