Take the Journey
The Mapping MLK Project presents a revolutionary way to visualize King's movements across the globe. Trace his steps from Atlanta to the history books.
Mapping MLK
Introducing the Mapping MLK Project
Launched in 2025, the Mapping MLK Project is an initiative that visualizes Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through geospatial storytelling. Utilizing the King Papers Project's decades of research, this effort maps King’s known travels, activities, and pivotal moments in the civil rights movement—transforming historical data into interactive, multimedia experiences. Using ArcGIS Online to display and disseminate spatial data, the project also creates dynamic StoryMaps that blend maps, historic photos, archival documents, and narrative insights, offering new ways to explore King’s enduring impact. The project's long term goal is to build the most comprehensive spatial archive of King’s life, powered by the Institute's ongoing research.
By centering the movements of an individual Black historical figure, this project challenges traditional spatial studies and invites users to see geography as a tool of liberation education. Future phases will showcase the global connections of the human rights struggle, from Ghana to Memphis, revealing how King’s vision transcended borders.
Follow King's journey—one step at a time. Explore our inaugural projects below.
Interactive Web Maps
India Trip, 1959
In February 1959, Martin Luther King, Jr. embarked on a trip to India that would change his life and American history. View the full interactive map of King's journey to understanding Gandhian nonviolence.
StoryMaps
"I Come As a Pilgrim": Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Journey to Satyagraha
Follow King’s transformative pilgrimage, where he deepened his understanding of Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence and strengthened the bond between the U.S. civil rights movement and India’s freedom struggle. Through interactive storytelling, maps, and archival images, explore how this trip shaped his vision for justice and equality.