Remembering the Attack on Pearl Harbor 

and the USS Arizona.

It started out as a quiet Sunday in Paradise, 75 years ago on December 7, 1941.

The Naval Base at Pearl Harbor as it looked prior to the attack on December 7, 1941.
(Photo by US Navy on October 13, 1941, less than 2 months before the attack)

The Japanese Empire had made several successful conquests on the Eastern half of the Pacific. They viewed the United States as their primary obstacle to dominating the entire Pacific Ocean region. The Japanese fleet, including 6 aircraft carriers loaded with around 450 aircraft, departed Japan on November 26, 1941. Radar from an American Army outpost had detected a large aerial formation shortly before the attack, but it was disregarded as they thought it was incoming flight of friendly planes from the mainland that they were expecting that day.

The forward  weapons magazine on the USS Arizona explode shortly after 8:00 am after being hit.
(Official U.S. Navy Photo)

The first wave of Japanese places attacked at 7:55 am, local time, and caught the U.S. Pacific Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor completely by surprise. The enemy attack concentrated on “Battleship Row” and the six airfields nearby. Eight U.S. Battleships were put out of commission. 2,335 U.S. soldiers and 68 civilians lost their life in that attack

The USS Arizona sinking after being hit.
(Source U.S. National Archives and Records Administrationfrom the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library)

The USS Arizona suffered the worst damage of the entire fleet when its artillery magazine was hit, causing a chain reaction of explosions on the ship. 1,104 servicemen aboard it lost their lives in that attack, accounting for almost half of all the casualties from that day.

An aerial view of the USS Arizona Memorial straddling the sunken hull of the Battleship that sank in the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
(US Navy Photo by  Jayme Pastoric Cropped from original)

The USS Arizona Memorial is one of the most visited National Historical Sites in the United States. The next day, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed Congress and the Nation. "Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."

In these troubling times, let us always remember the resolve and commitment that the generations who have gone before have done to protect our Great Nation and the Freedoms we have.

The USS Arizona Memorial, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is one of the popular attractions featured in the latest edition of Snapshots Across America.

For more information on Pearl Harbor visit:

National Parks Teaching With Historic Places Lesson Plans

http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/18arizona/18arizona.htm

http://www.pearlharbor.org/

For more info on the Dr. Toy Award winning educational board game Snapshots Across America, visit our website at

www.SnapshotsUSAgame.com

Happy 100th Birthday to National Park Service

On August 25th, 2016 the U.S. National Park Service celebrates 100 years. We want to help celebrate the #NPS100 Birthday with our own Top Ten Lesser Known National Parks that are all featured in our educational board game Snapshots Across America.

#1-Mammoth Cave National Park
Kentucky

Our Top Lesser Known National Park is the largest discovered cave system in the entire world, with new passageways being constantly discovered. Archaeological evidence that has been found show that natives explored parts of the cave at least 4,000 years ago. Numerous guided tours take visitors to different sections of the cave, as well as additional "wild cave tours" are available to the advanced spelunkers.

Mammoth Cave National Park Website:

http://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm

#2-Everglades National Park
Florida

The Everglades National Park protects the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It provides a critical natural habitat for many endangered species including the Manatee, American Crocodile and the Florida Panther. Visitors that come to the 1.5 million acre park enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing or tours through the many different habitat areas.

Everglades National Park Website:

http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

#3-Mesa Verde National Park
Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. It preserves over 4000 archaeological sites including over 600 cliff dwellings and is the largest archaeological site in the entire United States. The structures made out of sandstone blocks using adobe mortar have been fairly well preserved due to being built under the protecting cliff overhangs called alcoves, which also protected those who lived in the dwellings. 

Mesa Verde National Park Website:

http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

#4-Kenai Fjords National Park
Alaska

Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 on the Kenai Peninsula on the Southern central coast of Alaska. It contains 38 identified glaciers, which have carved out the many rugged ocean inlets. One of the popular activities are cruises that offer views of the glaciers and many aquatic wildlife including seals, sea lions, porpoises, humpback whales and orcas.

Kenai Fjords National Park Website:

http://www.nps.gov/kefj/index.htm

#5-Mount Rainier National Park
Washington

Mount Rainier National Park was the 5th U.S. National 

and establish in 1899. Mt. Rainier is an active stratovolcano that is 14,410 ft. high and is currently covered by over 25 glaciers. 97% of the Park is protected as wilderness, but it is popular for hiking and mountaineering.

Mount Rainier National Park Website

http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

#6-Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is also celebrating 100 years this August having been established August 1, 1916 and is one of the tourist attractions featured in the educational board-game Snapshots Across America. It is home to one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and extends from sea level up to at elevation of over 13,000 ft high.

#5-Mount Rainier National Park
Washington

#7-Glacier National Park, Montana

Native Glacier National Park, with just over 1 million acres, is home to 26 current glaciers, and offers some of the most rugged mountain terrain in the U.S. It is well known for its majestic 53 mile long "Going to the Sun Road" which takes travelers through the heart of the Park, as well as hiking and back-packing trails.

Glacier National Park Website:

http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

#8-Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

Native Americans had visited the Hot Springs for thousands of years before Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto visited the area in 1541. It was first established by the United States Congress in 1832 as the Hot Springs Reservation as the first Federally protected natural area in the U.S. Numerous spas and bath-houses still offer soothing hot springs. It is one of the attractions that players can "visit" as they travel around the game-board map of the United States in the educational game Snapshots Across America.

Hot Springs National Park Website:
http://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm

#9-Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

You can "visit" popular attractions like Crater Lake National Park by traveling across a
game-board map of the United States "by car, train, boat or plane".

Scientists say that over 7,000 years ago, a large volcano blew up in an eruption that was approximately 150 times bigger that Mount St. Helens in 1980. A lake formed in the collapsed crater and is one of the most pure water lakes in the world.

Crater Lake National Park Website
http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm

#10-Theodore Roosevelt National Park

North Dakota.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is featured  on one of the game cards for
the educational board game Snapshots Across America

In 1903 John Muir gave then President Theodore Roosevelt a tour of Yosemite National Park. President Roosevelt, after experiencing Yosemite and several other National Parks that year, would become one of the greatest political advocates and a primary supporter of  the National Parks. He later signed legislation that established five additional National Parks, and designated 18 National Monuments during his Presidency.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park recognizes the Ranches he established there before becoming President, and honors his accomplishments as the President who helped build what would become the foundation for the National Park Service.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Website:
http://www.nps.gov/thro

Spotlight: Thomas Jefferson

Honoring The Presidents on Mount Rushmore:

Thomas Jefferson

Mount Rushmore, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, features sculptures of four of the greatest Presidents of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Source: Used under License of Corel Photo CD.

Potrait of Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale
Source: White House Historical Association

     Thomas Jefferson is known for being the primary author of the Declaration of Independence as well as the Third President of the United States serving 2 terms from 1801-1809. He had served as Secretary of State during George Washington’s first term and as his Vice President for the second term. During his Presidency he negotiated with the French for the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States territory and sent Lewis & Clark to explore the new added territory.

Thomas Jefferson is honored in 3 different Snapshots Across America Cards:

The Gateway Arch is the Primary attraction at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in Saint Louis, Missouri.

The site celebrates the Expansion of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase that was negotiated by Thomas Jefferson during his Presidency.

He is also honored in the Snapshots: American History Expansion Deck with the Lewis & Clark National Historical Park in Washington & Oregon for sending them to explore that Louisiana Purchase.

Jefferson is also noted in the Historical Sites Expansion deck for Monticello, which was his home for over 50 years, located in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Spotlight: George Washington

Honoring The Presidents on Mount Rushmore:

Mount Rushmore, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, features sculptures of four of the greatest Presidents of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Source: Used under License of Corel Photo CD.

Potrait of President George Washington
by Gilbert Stuart, 1797.

George Washington was the first President of the United States and is recognized as the “Father of our Country” for his many roles in establishing the United States as an independent and free country. 

George Wasdington and Lafayette at Valley Forge.
by John Ward Dunsmore, 1907.

 He was the General and Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. One of the events that shaped his success and eventually led to victory over the British is attributed to his experiences and training of Soldiers at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania during the Winter of 1777-78.

He also presided over the Constitutional Convention which drafted the United States Constitution in 1787. He was then unanimously elected as the First President of the United States, and served two terms from 1789-1797.

George Washington is honored on two of the cards for the Dr. Toy Award Winning educational game, Snapshots Across America.

The Washington Monument in the main deck: 

And Valley Forge in the Historic Sites Expansion Deck.

Spotlight: Presidents Day 2016

Mount Rushmore, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, features sculptures of four of the greatest Presidents of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Source: Used under License of Corel Photo CD.

Honoring America's Great Presidents

     On Monday, February 15^, 2015, we celebrate a holiday that has become known as “Presidents’ Day”. But is it more than just a day off of work or when businesses offer deals on appliances, carpet or furniture?

     The history behind Presidents’ Day goes back to the early 1800’s. After George Washington died in 1799, his birthday, which was February 22, was “unofficially” celebrated by many patriotic Americans in honor and remembrance of the first US President and the “Father of our Country”. However, it wasn’t until 1885, that Washington’s Birthday was officially established as a National Holiday celebrated annually on February 22.

     The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which went into effect in 1971, officially moved several Federal Holidays to Mondays, creating more “three day weekends” for families. One of the goals and arguments supporting the promotion of the change, was that three day weekends would stimulate the travel industry and increase business commerce. Hence the now common “Presidents’ Day Sales”, really do have an actual historical origin in the law as it was supposed to be helping to stimulate business and economical growth.

     The new law changed the official date to celebrate Washington’s Birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February. Depending upon how the calendar falls, it can occur between Feb 15 and 21. That date was chosen under a proposed provision in that Act that would combine the celebration with Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, which was February 12. 

    As we are honoring and remembering the Great Presidents that have help build and strengthen America, Mount Rushmore is the one place that memorializes 4 of the greatest US Presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

Work at Mount Rushmore in progress under the direction of Sculptor Gutzon Borglum.

Source: National Park Service Mt. Rushmore Historical Photos

Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore, was born in the Idaho territory in 1867. His family moved to Nebraska while he was still young where his father established a medical practice. He studied art and sculpture in Paris at the Julian Academy, where he met and was influenced by famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Borglum had built a reputation for several patriotic works of art, ranging from a bronze memorial statue at Gettysburg of confederate soldiers from North Carolina, to a six ton marble head of President Lincoln that was exhibited in the White House during Theodore Roosevelt’s Presidency.

    Work on Mount Rushmore started in 1927. After 13 and a half years of work, Gutzon died in March 1941 before Mount Rushmore was finished. His son Lincoln, supervised some finishing touches on the faces through the Fall of that year. Shortly thereafter, the United States entered World War II and with the country’s resources being devoted to the war effort, further work stopped.

     Over the decades, Mount Rushmore has become a familiar symbol of America, recognizing 4 of the greatest Presidents of the United States. Each year over 3 million people come to witness in person one of the greatest historic memorials and artistic ingenuities in American History.

“The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt."  Gutzon Borglum

As we are honoring and remembering the Great Presidents that have help build and strengthen America, follow us the rest of Presidents Day Week as we share some highlights of each of those four Great Presidents seen on Mount Rushmore.

Snapshots Across America features Mount Rushmore as one of the attraction game cards that players can learn about as they travel across the game-board map of America:

The Super Bowl, Lady Gaga and Fort McHenry?

UPDATE:

What a beautiful combination: Super Bowl 50, Lady Gaga and the Battle of Fort McHenry!

I have to say, while I haven't really been a big fan of Lady Gaga in the past, I think that her performance of the Star Spangled Banner at Super Bowl 50 was one of the best and most honorable renditions of our National Anthem performed by a Pop Star that I remember.

To watch the video go to 

https://youtu.be/cU72TkJ51fY

(Original post )

What an interesting combination: Super Bowl 50, Lady Gaga and the Battle of Fort McHenry

If you haven't heard yet, Grammy Award winning pop singer, Lady Gaga, is performing the National Anthem at this year's Super Bowl. When I heard that, my first reaction was.., well... um... this will be... interesting....

The NFL Network broadcast an interview of Lady Gaga with Nate Burleson, a former NFL player turned NFL broadcaster, Nate asked her about her performance, "Will there be any surprises?" 

- @ladygaga on singing #SB50 National Anthemhttps://t.co/YqilZKeFzm

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 6, 2016

She answered, “I have to live up to a song that stands the test of time. I think the best way to do that is kind of forget about yourself and just focus on what it means. You know if you listen to the lyrics of this song…. you know it’s just such a beautifully written song. And I think that I will be thinking about what it means.” She added, “I’m really singing it from the heart, and I’m also singing it really very true to the way that it was written, because I think that’s when it sounds its most majestic.”

I have to say I was actually quite surprised and rather inspired by her answer and actually look forward to her rendition.


While most Americans are very familiar with the “Star Spangled Banner”, many don’t know about the history leading up to Francis Scott Key penning those infamous lyrics while witnessing the Battle of Fort McHenry.

Honor Guard at Fort McHenry, Maryland
Photo: National Park Service

We go back to the War of 1812, which for the first couple of years, US forces were somewhat successful in many of the scattered skirmishes. However, after the British defeated Napoléon in April 1814, they concentrated their efforts on the war against the newly independent United States. On August 24, 1814, the British took control of Washington D.C. and set the US Capitol Building and White House on fire. The British’s next target was the strategic port of Baltimore, Maryland.

As the British were advancing towards Baltimore, a series of rather unexpected events set into motion the strange circumstances where Francis Scott Key, a young American lawyer in Washington DC, witnessed the attack from behind enemy lines in the midst of the mighty British Naval fleet.

On August 28 an elderly Dr. William Beanes was wrongfully arrested by the British as a prisoner of war. Several of his patients persuaded Key to help get Dr. Beanes released. After getting diplomatic status from President James Madison, Key and his companion, John S. Skinner, a prisoner exchange officer, approached the British Fleet under a flag of truce on September 7, 1814. There they met with British Major General Robert Ross, who agreed to release Dr. Beanes. However, since the three Americans were then aware of the British’s attack on Baltimore, General Ross ordered that they be detained so that they couldn’t alert the U.S. forces. So the three Americans were being held captive behind enemy lines in the midst of the massive British fleet of over 50 ships.

On September 12, the British launched a ground attack on the East side of the harbor where, Major General Ross, who Key and Skinner had met with just days before, was mortally wounded. Later that day 16 British warships moved to within firing distance of Fort McHenry.

Arial Photo of Fort McHenry protecting the Baltimore Harbor.
Photo: National Park Service

Then at 6:00 am on September 13, British cannons, mortars, and rocket launchers opened assault on Fort McHenry. The battled raged all day and well into the night where rockets and exploding bombs lit up the smoky dark sky. At about 1:00 am under a blanket of night, the British unsuccessfully attempted a ground attack on the west. Throughout the night, the British continued firing at the fort. Despite the British launching an estimated 1,500 – 1,800 shells, mortars and rockets aimed directly at Fort McHenry, U.S. casualties were relatively small with only four deaths and twenty-four injuries out of approximately 1,000 defenders.

Before dawn, the fighting had ended signaling that the battle was over, but Key and his companions didn’t know who had won. Then as told through the immortalized words he wrote “O, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,” Key experienced great elation which “Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there”.

Key, Skinner and Beanes were released from British detainment two days later. Key spent that first night of freedom in a quiet hotel room in Baltimore, editing the lyrics he wrote while aboard the enemy ship. The next day, on September 17, 1814, the Defense of Fort M’Henry was first published and distributed in Baltimore in the form of a handbill. Over the next few weeks, it was published in numerous US newspapers and was on its way to becoming one of America’s most beloved patriotic songs.

And that’s how a young American lawyer while being held behind enemy lines, witnessed and was inspired by one of the greatest battles in US History, to write our National Anthem. So the next time you hear or sing the Star Spangled Banner, whether while watching the Super Bowl 50 or even a hometown high school game, perhaps you may know a little bit more about its history and better understand the meaning and significance behind those familiar words.

Fort McHenry National Historical Site is one of the attractions featured in the educational game, Snapshots Across America. 

: 

The World Tunes in to San Francisco

This weekend the whole World will be tuning in to the San Francisco area, home to Super Bowl 50, which is also home to one of the most recognized landmarks in the United States.

The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California.
Photo by Ryan J Wilmot CC-BY-SA-4.0

The Golden Gate Bridge took a little over 3 years to build, from January 1934 to April 1937 and was then opened in May 1937. Measuring 4200 ft between the two towers, it was the longest main span suspension bridge in the world at that time and held that record until 1964, but still is the 2nd longest suspension bridge in the United States. 

This coming weekend (February 7, 2016) the Denver Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, which will be played at the new San Francisco 49'ers home in Levi's Stadium located in Santa Clara, California. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. on CBS.

 The Official Super Bowl 50 Media Guide,  claims that it will be "the biggest Super Bowl the NFL has ever celebrated,.." and will be "big: load, proud, inclusive and authentic, just like the Bay Area itself."1

Photo source:
San Francisco Bay Area/Super Bowl 50 Host Committee

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the attractions featured on a card in the Educational Board Game, Snapshots Across America.

SAVE 20% 

on the Snapshots Across America
Educational Expanded Edition.

Remembering The Space Shuttle Challenger

Its hard to believe that its been 30 years since that fateful Tuesday Morning at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

Photo credit: NASA. 

January 28, 1986: It was the 25th Space Shuttle Mission, and the 10th mission of the Challenger. It had launched like any other of the previous 24 missions, including 9 previous launches of the Challenger. 73 seconds after blast-off the unthinkable happened. The Shuttle exploded, along with 7 passengers, including Christa McAuliffe, a High School Teacher from New Hampshire that had been selected from 11,000 applicants to become the first Teacher in Space.

 The crew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986.
Crewmembers were (left to right, front row) Michael J. Smith, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee and Ronald E. McNair; (back row) Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis and Judith A. Resnik. Photo: NASA

The 113th Space Shuttle Mission of the Columbia also exploded, breaking up on re-entry on February 1, 2003 scattering debris over a 100 mile stretch of Texas and Louisiana.

There were a total of 135 Space Shuttle Missions spanning over a period of 30 years. The first being the Columbia lifting off on April 12, 1981, and the last was the Atlantis lifting off on July 8, 2011.

Snapshots Across America features the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. In June of 2013, the New Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit opened up at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex featuring the actual retired Atlantis Shuttle as the centerpiece.

A video from NASA about the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Jonas Blizzard Buries Northeastern U.S.

    WEATHER ALERT!    

Snow Blizzard Buries Northeastern U.S.

Winter Storm Jonas buries Washington D.C.
Statue of James Garfield with U.S. Capitol Building in the Background.
Photo taken January 23, 2016 by Geoff Alexander via Flickr. CC BY-2.0

If you have watched the Weather Channel at all the past day or two, you should know that the Snow Storm they have named "Jonas" has buried the Northeastern United States. As of Saturday evening (Jan. 23), the Weather Channel is reporting that Washington DC, Baltimore, New York and many other cities in the Northeast have had over 2 feet of snow.

Here are some other photos:

Queens, New York.

Photo taken January 23, 2016 by John Gillespie via Flickr. CC BY-SA-2.0

Howard Street in Baltimore, Maryland.
Photo Taken January 23, 2016 by Seth Sawyers via Flickr. CC BY-2.0.

But after all, weather happens. It’s been happening for thousands and even millions of years, and depending upon the physical geography of where you are, sooner or later you are going to experience some type of severe bad weather. Whether that weather (pun intended) is a brutal blizzard in the Northeast, upper Midwest or Rocky Mountains, a hurricane along the Gulf or Atlantic coast, a tornado in the Great Plains, flooding along the Mississippi River, a heatwave in the South, or a draught in the West leading to devastating forest fires: weather happens. Yes, WEATHER HAPPENS! And so far all we can do about it is try to predict it, be prepared for it, respond to it and basically just deal with it.

When my wife and I were creating the Dr. Toy Award Winning educational board game Snapshots Across America, we wanted to have a fun “gotcha” factor to create interactive competition with players. Since players are “traveling” across a game board map of the United States to visit tourist attractions from all 50 States, we thought what if your “vacation” got ruined by “bad weather”.

So we introduced “bad weather” cards like this one that would cancel another players vacation to any of the States shown on the card.

Snapshots Across America features other different “Weather Alerts” for different regions around the United States that can be played to “spoil” another player’s vacation to one of the States affected by that bad weather. 

But one of the real benefits of this aspect in our game is it also gives families an opportunity to start talking with their children about what happens if you face or have to experience bad weather. What types of potential bad weather happen in your area? How do you protect yourself in a storm? Do you have an emergency plan? Do you have backup power, heat or water? Do you have an emergency kit with flashlights, food, water and other necessities that might be needed?

A good source of information for what you may need in an the event of an emergency or severe weather is:

http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit

Snapshots Game Review by Love To Learn.

Here's what Love to Learn says about Snapshots Across America:

Buy Snapshots Across America at:
http://www.lovetolearn.net/Snapshots-Across-America

http://snapshotsusagame.com/

Need A Vacation? Save 20%

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Snapshots Across America
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Homeschool

Snapshots Across America is the Dr. Toy Award Winning Game where players learn U.S. Geography while "travelling" across a game-board map of the United States to "visit" actual places from all across America.

Great for helping families learn U.S. Geography as well as about many great Landmarks, National Parks, Museums, National Monuments, Memorials, Historical Sites, and many other fun and educational attractions all across America.

Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

Snapshots Spotlight: Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Site in Atlanta, Georgia.

Tribute to MLK created by Spanish sculptor, Kavier Medina-Campeny near the entrance
 to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Site in  Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Matt Lemmon, CC-BY-SA-2.0

Today, January 18, 2016, we honor one of the most influential persons who helped bring about racial equality in the United States, Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Site in Atlanta, Georgia is a 23 acre Historical Site with over 1 million visitors each year, administrated by the National Park Service. It features many important historical locations including:

The Boyhood home of Martin Luther King, Jr. Atlanta, GA
Photo: Jeff Clemmons CC-BY-3.0

The Visitor  Center at the MLK National Historical Site in Atlanta
features many exhibits on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Photo: National Park Service

The Ebenezer Baptist Churh in Atlanta, GA where MLK was baptized and gave
his first sermon there at the age of 19.
NPS Photo by Gary Tarleton

Martin Luther King, Jr. Tomb at the King Center
Photo by George Paul Puvvada CC-BY-SA-3.0

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and delivered one of the most famous speeches of his life,

The words of that speech have became known as the "I have a Dream" speech, and include the following excerpt:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood...

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character...

"With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day." (Source: BBC News)

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical site is one of the attractions featured in the educational board-game Snapshots Across America on one of the cards in the American Historical Sites Expansion Deck.

For more information visit the National Park Service Website at:
http://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm

And the King Center website at
http://www.thekingcenter.org/