There are traces of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy all over Indianapolis.
You can drive Dr. Martin Luther King Street, a road City-County Councilors first tried to dedicate to the civil rights leader in 1979. The street officially was named after him in 1985, after councilors had to compromise to rename a shorter stretch.
You can visit Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and see a statue of the civil rights pioneer reaching toward Robert Kennedy, a Democratic presidential candidate who was in Indianapolis to campaign before King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Kennedy had to announce King’s murder to the crowd, calling for peace and prayer.
On Senate Avenue, you can read a historical marker at the site of what was once the biggest Black YMCA in the county. King was signed up to speak at a meeting at the Senate Avenue YMCA on Dec. 12, 1958, but so many people showed up that it had to be moved to the Cadle Tabernacle, a church that once held a Ku Klux Klan rally.
In the Indianapolis Recorder, reporter Willa Thomas described how 4,000 people listened attentively to King. She wrote, “Dr. King said we should refuse to meet hate with violence.”
If you want to honor King and his work in the Civil Rights movement, here are 12 events you can attend in Indianapolis.
Indiana Civil Rights Commission’s wreath-laying ceremony
🗓️ Noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15
📍 Indiana Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free, but you can reserve a ticket.
Start celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a few days early at the 35th annual wreath-laying ceremony. There will be a speaker and a music performance before members of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate Black fraternity, present a ceremonial wreath.
IU MLK Day of Service
🗓️ 1:30-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18
📍 301 University Blvd., second floor
🎟️ Free, but must register.
You can get a free lunch and hear from local nonprofit leaders in two sessions with Indiana University’s School of Social Work.
First, Damita Jefferson from the youth organization VOICES Corp. will draw from her experience in human services and justice work to talk about restorative practices and emotional regulation. Robert Marshall, an executive at Flanner House, will give a talk, “The Power of the Youth and Young-Adult Black Dollar.”
Indiana Historical Society: Free admission
🗓️ 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍 Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St
🎟️ Free, but you can reserve a ticket.
Spend your day crafting with your family, dropping off donations for Helping Veterans and Families’ pantry, enjoying sensory bins, and listening to stories and reflecting on MLK’s impact, history and heart. Free parking can be found in the Indiana Historical Society’s parking lot off New York Street.
Newfields: Free admission
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍 Newfields, 4000 Michigan Road
🎟️ Free admission
Throughout the day, Newfields will commemorate MLK’s life through musical performances, stories with the Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore, presentations with a Butler University professor, and tours of the museum. Newfields will also be taking donations of food and new socks for North United Methodist Church’s community food program.
Madam Walker’s Youth Day of Service
🗓️ 9:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍 Madam Walker Legacy Center, 617 Indiana Ave.
🎟️ Free, but reserve a spot.
MLK highlighted themes of serving with a compassionate heart and helping others, which you can practice, too. At the Madam Walker Legacy Center, there are opportunities for youth ages 2-12 to volunteer. Kids can pack care kits for those in need or create crafts for seniors and city officials. Adults need to come with their kids.
Church Service and Lunch
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍 New Circle Church, 3421 N. Park Ave.
🎟️ Free, but register ahead of time.
Another way to spend your day could be at one of the many churches around the city for reflection, fellowship and lunch. This event is a collaboration between New Circle Church and neighborhood churches.
Eiteljorg Museum: Free admission
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍 500 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free
Do a craft with your family or watch drum circle, choir and dance performances at the Eiteljorg Museum. Plus, it’s the last chance to explore the annual Jingle Rails model train exhibit. Admission is free, but the Eiteljorg is accepting donations to Gleaner’s Food Bank of Indiana.
Indiana State Museum: Free admission
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍 650 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free
Add your own flair to a community mural, watch live performances and explore the exhibits. Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and donations to Gleaner’s Food Bank of Indiana will be accepted instead of admission fees.
Children’s Museum: Free admission
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍 3000 N. Meridian St.
🎟️ Free
Take your kids to watch special music performances for MLK Day and explore the museum exhibits. The tickets are free, but you have to reserve them ahead of time.
Indianapolis Zoo: Free admission
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍1200 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free
Like other cultural centers within the White River State Park, admission to the Indianapolis Zoo is free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. They’re also accepting donations to Gleaner’s Food Bank, online or in-person.
Ice skating at Bicentennial Plaza
🗓️ 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍 117 S. Pennsylvania St.
🎟️ Free
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, skate rentals and parking in the Virginia Avenue Garage are free. The rink is covered and has warming stations throughout. Book a skate time in advance online.
MLK Celebration at the Madam Walker Legacy Center
🗓️ 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19
📍 Madam Walker Legacy Center, 617 Indiana Ave.
🎟️ Free, but reserve a ticket.
To conclude your day of remembrance, you can head over to the Madam Walker Legacy Center for the 44th annual MLK celebration. You can listen to Bakari Sellers, a New York Times best-selling author and the son of a civil rights leader Cleveland Sellers, speak about the legacy of MLK.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
Ava Howard is Mirror Indy’s high school intern. She attends Covenant Christian High School and hopes to study fashion journalism.
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