Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have a Dream” World Peace Rose Garden

The Garden borders the Peace Plaza, in front of the Visitors’ Center. It has 185 roses in a variety of colors and fragrances. The graves of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King can be seen directly across the street if you stand at the Peace Plaza, facing the rose garden. 

Meaning of Design: 

• The starburst design of the garden represents the brilliance of Dr. King's life and the impact of his ideals on humankind. 
• The pink roses in the center row represent Mrs. Coretta Scott King’s oneness with Dr. King and her continuation of his work. These roses are in alignment with Dr. and Mrs. King’s gravesite located directly across Auburn Avenue at The King Center. 
• The rows that border on the right and left side of the center row are a tribute to the special bond and similarity of peace movements between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. 
• The band of red roses weaving its way throughout the garden honors African Americans and their contributions to the rich history of the United States and the world. 
• The various clusters of multi-colored roses symbolize the diverse cultures, nations and religions of the world and the universal appeal of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s inspirational message of peace through nonviolence. 

Inspirational Messages Of Peace: 

The winning Inspirational Messages of Peace that border the garden are written by our youth from the greater Atlanta area, the United States and around the world. The poems express the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the meaning of the garden or an aspect of peace dear to the students’ hearts. New messages are unveiled at the annual anniversary celebration.