ATLANTA — The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, Ga., presents "From Memphis To Atlanta: The Drum Major Returns Home." This original exhibition runs April 4 through August 31, 2008, in remembrance of King’s assassination 40 years ago.

On April 4, 1968, the undaunted voice of Martin Luther King Jr. — one of the world’s esteemed proponents for justice and nonviolence — was to have been silenced forever. Yet, bullets were not enough to prevent the revered civil rights leader's works and teachings from impacting the lives of people around the world in the ensuing years.

"From Memphis To Atlanta" examines the final days of King’s life, beginning with his journey to Memphis, Tenn., to campaign on behalf of poor sanitation workers. It closes with his final return home to Atlanta for the April 9 funeral when thousands mourned his death. The exhibition features the following:

· A photographic display of the period April 3-9, 1968;

· The funeral wagon that carried King’s casket in the procession from historic Ebenezer Baptist Church to the public memorial service at Morehouse College;

· Exclusive prose from close acquaintances of King offering intimate insight on his leadership and legacy; and

· A video installation, which artist Barbara Bickart developed, documenting visitors' reactions to the site of King’s assassination, the former Lorraine Motel (now the National Civil Rights Museum).

The "From Memphis to Atlanta" exhibition runs daily at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site Visitor Center until August 31. Admission is free. The site is open 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (6 p.m. from June 8 to August 16). For more information call (404) 331-5190 or visit www.nps.gov/malu.

The National Park Service established the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in 1980. The site preserves and interprets the places in Atlanta where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was born, lived, worked, worshiped and is buried.

For additional information, please contact Saudia Muwwakkil, NPS, at (404) 331-5190, ext. 3008.