Harry Johnson of the National Memorial Project Foundation talks about the opening of the long-awaited memorial.
By Rob Lovitt, msnbc.com contributor
Here?s hoping the second time is?a charm.
On Sunday, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial will be dedicated in Washington, D.C., seven weeks after the original event was canceled because of Hurricane Irene.
Travelers attending the dedication can expect smaller crowds, cooler weather and a revamped schedule of events and activities at the site and around the city.
?Due to the postponement, we are planning an event much smaller in scale but just as big in spirit,? said Harry Johnson Sr., president and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation Inc., in a statement in September.
Harry Johnson talks about the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Originally scheduled to coincide with the 48th anniversary of King?s historic ?I Have a Dream? speech, the Aug. 28 event was projected to draw as many as 250,000 people. This weekend?s event will likely be much smaller, reports NBC Washington, with about 50,000 people expected to gather in West Potomac Park.
?The reality is that fewer people are able to travel long distances this time of year compared to late August,? said Robin McClain, spokesperson for Destination DC, the city?s tourism office. Those that make the trip, she added, ?are likely to experience ideal fall weather and an historic, once in a lifetime event.?
Although the event has been scaled back, a full roster of civil rights leaders and other public figures, including Aretha Franklin, former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young and the Reverend Jesse Jackson, are expected to attend. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., with President Obama delivering the dedication address during the 11 a.m. hour
The dedication is free and no tickets are required. However, visitors should be advised that:
- There will be no public access to the memorial site during the dedication. Instead, visitors will be directed to West Potomac Park just west of the site, where large-screen monitors will broadcast the ceremony. Gates will open at 6 a.m. and attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and chairs.
- Due to limited parking in the area, organizers recommend walking or taking public transit. The city?s Metrorail system will open two hours early, at 5 a.m.; for information on fares, stations and restrictions, visit their website.
While the Sunday ceremony is seen as the end of a long process, a controversy over an inscription on the monument threatens to linger after the crowds disperse. The line ? ?I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness? ? paraphrases a longer quotation and, according to some, reflects poorly on King.
?The quote makes Dr. Martin Luther King look like an arrogant twit,? the author and poet Maya Angelou told The Washington Post in August.
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Last week, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, whose agency will manage the monument as part of the National Park Service, told the Christian Science Monitor that the misquote was ?an area of concern to me? and suggested that the issue would be addressed at a later date.
Controversy aside, this weekend offers D.C.-bound travelers additional opportunities to reflect on King?s legacy. Among the options:
- Corcoran Gallery of Art: Opened on Oct. 1, the ?30 Americans? exhibit explores issues of identity, race and sexuality through the works of American-African artists of the last 30 years.
- Strathmore: On Friday, Atlanta?s Morehouse College will host a tribute concert honoring its most famous alumnus at this music venue in North Bethesda, Md. Featuring R&B singers Eddie Levert, Dennis Edwards and Johnny Gill, the event will also honor Stevie Wonder and Congressman John Conyers Jr.
?We wanted to chronicle the efforts of people who are keeping Martin Luther King?s legacy in front of the world,? said concert manager Henry Goodgame, Morehouse?s director of alumni relations. ?Stevie Wonder?s and John Conyers? work have been stepping stones leading to what the event on Sunday is all about.?
On Aug. 22, the public got a first look at the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
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Rob Lovitt is a longtime travel writer who still believes the journey is as important as the destination. Follow him at Twitter.
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