clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Martin Luther King Jr., Bostonian

View as Map

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at the National Mall. Ten years before that epochal event, King was but a lowly grad student at Boston University, playing pick-up basketball games, dating his future wife, and, like grad students since time immemorial, happily dining gratis at friends' homes. He likely spent most of his time in the South End, including residing at three known addresses, as well as in and around the BU campus. King left Boston in 1954, returning for another forceful speech in 1965.


· MLK on Northampton Street [MySouthEnd.com]
· Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. archive [BU]
· Our Curbed Maps archive [Curbed Boston]

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

397 Massachusetts Avenue

Copy Link

King lived for a time in this Victorian with the bow front. It's the only address of his where there's an official plaque commemorating the tenancy.

170 Saint Botolph Street

Copy Link

King lived in this brownstone for a time as well.

396 Northampton Street, #5

Copy Link

King and new bride Coretta likely lived in this apartment for about a year after their 1953 marriage.

Carter Playground

Copy Link

King unwound from his graduate studies with basketball games in the park.

21 Holyoke Street

Copy Link

King was a dinner guest of the long-time owners of this townhouse, which traded for a whopping $3,823,803 in January.

League of Women for Community Service

Copy Link

Coretta Scott lived at the long-time headquarters of the League of Women for Community Service while she was dating King.

Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center

Copy Link

The Boston University center houses the personal papers and correspondence of the school's famous alum.

Massachusetts State House

Copy Link

King spoke to a joint legislative session on April 22, 1965, closing his remarks by quoting his "I Have a Dream" speech almost verbatim.

Myles Standish Hall

Copy Link

Where Martin met Coretta... And where King lived when he first got to BU.

Loading comments...

397 Massachusetts Avenue

King lived for a time in this Victorian with the bow front. It's the only address of his where there's an official plaque commemorating the tenancy.

170 Saint Botolph Street

King lived in this brownstone for a time as well.

396 Northampton Street, #5

King and new bride Coretta likely lived in this apartment for about a year after their 1953 marriage.

Carter Playground

King unwound from his graduate studies with basketball games in the park.

21 Holyoke Street

King was a dinner guest of the long-time owners of this townhouse, which traded for a whopping $3,823,803 in January.

League of Women for Community Service

Coretta Scott lived at the long-time headquarters of the League of Women for Community Service while she was dating King.

Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center

The Boston University center houses the personal papers and correspondence of the school's famous alum.

Massachusetts State House

King spoke to a joint legislative session on April 22, 1965, closing his remarks by quoting his "I Have a Dream" speech almost verbatim.

Myles Standish Hall

Where Martin met Coretta... And where King lived when he first got to BU.