Old Fourth Ward in Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Middle-Class Dwelling
497 Auburn Avenue
— Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site —
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 20, 2021
1. Middle-Class Dwelling Marker
Inscription.
Middle-Class Dwelling. 497 Auburn Avenue. Note the stained-glass window on the first floor, the decorative shingles and woodwork on the end of the gable, and the irregularly shaped roof. Look for these and other Queen Anne architectural features , ornamental moldings and spindles , on many of the dwellings in the neighborhood. These gingerbread flourishes became popular during the Victorian era of the late 1880s., Whites built and first occupied this house and many others in the neighborhood. After the 1906 race riot, educated, middle-class blacks began settling here, and by 1910 the area was predominantly black., Captions , . Turned posts with decorative brackets are a common detail on porches in the neighborhood. , . Decorative scrollwork (far right) replaces the central opening of the bay window at 522 Auburn Avenue.
Note the stained-glass window on the first floor, the decorative shingles and woodwork on the end of the gable, and the irregularly shaped roof. Look for these and other Queen Anne architectural features — ornamental moldings and spindles — on many of the dwellings in the neighborhood. These gingerbread flourishes became popular during the Victorian era of the late 1880s.
Whites built and first occupied this house and many others in the neighborhood. After the 1906 race riot, educated, middle-class blacks began settling here, and by 1910 the area was predominantly black.
Captions
• Turned posts with decorative brackets are a common detail on porches in the neighborhood.
• Decorative scrollwork (far right) replaces the central opening of the bay window at 522 Auburn Avenue.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 33° 45.323′ N, 84° 22.277′ W. Marker is in Atlanta, Georgia, in Fulton County. It is in the Old Fourth Ward. Marker is on Auburn Avenue NE east of Boulevard NE, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 497 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta GA 30312, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 20, 2021
2. Middle-Class Dwelling Marker
The center house is the birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 278 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on November 21, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on November 22, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
