Dedication Ceremony FAQs

Access to the Dedication Ceremony

The Dedication of the Memorial will be free and open to the public. There will also be extensive public viewing areas that will not require tickets. Tickets for certain areas will be required.

Restricted/Prohibited Items

To avoid lengthy security delays, we recommend that guests not bring prohibited items, and avoid (if possible) hard-to-search items like baby strollers

  • Firearm of any type
  • Weapon of any type
    • Firearm of any type
    • Chemical materials
    • Radiological materials
    • Biological materials
    • Knives of any type
  • Toy guns / toy weapons
  • Fireworks
  • Pepper spray / mace
  • Scissors
  • Razor blades
  • Needles
  • Leatherman brand tools (or similar)
  • Screwdrivers (or similar)
  • Tripods
  • Coolers
  • Glass bottles
  • Soda cans
  • Air-horns
  • Laser pointers
  • Aerosol containers
  • Sticks / poles
  • Baseballs, softballs, etc
  • Animals (except guide dogs)
  • Produce (examples apples, oranges, etc.)
  • Duffel bags
  • Suitcases
  • Backpacks
  • Large handbags

This list may not be inclusive. Law enforcement personnel reserve the right to prohibit any other items determined to be a potential public safety hazard.

Permitted Items

  • Cameras
  • Video recorders
  • Uncased binoculars
  • Small handbags
  • Diaper bags
  • Compact folding chairs
  • Pagers
  • Cell phones
  • Strollers
  • Wheelchairs
  • Appropriate clothes for weather conditions
  • Umbrellas

Guests should be prepared for search of all items carried on site.

Food/Beverage Services

Food and beverage will be available for purchase on site. CASH ONLY, no credit cards. Please note only pre-packaged food items are allowed due to on-site security. Produce (whole fruit, apples, oranges, etc) are PROHIBITTED. Only beverages in plastic bottles are permitted. Soda cans and glass bottles are PROHIBITED. While food vendors will be available, lines may be very long or locations may be a long distance from your seating area. Eat a good meal before coming to the dedication.

CELL PHONE USE/COMMUNICATION/REUNIFICATION

Due to high volume of calls on the cell phone network phone service will be difficult for most attendees. We strongly recommend that parties traveling together designate a “meet-up” location near the Dedication site – some suggestions, the Lincoln Memorial, The Washington Memorial and RFK Stadium. There will be buses in the area that will serve as a reunification site for lost persons.

Wheelchair Access

Seating for persons requiring the use of wheelchairs is available at the Dedication Ceremony. Attendees utilizing the designated ADA areas can be accompanied by one additional guest. Please note that wheelchairs will not be available at the event.

Clothing Recommendations

Weather temperatures in the Washington, DC area traditionally vary from high 90s to even 100 degrees during this weekend. Seating is in the open so there will be limited shade. Sunscreen or hats are advisable. We also recommend comfortable, flat soled walking shoes. Attendees may have to walk on some areas that are not paved ground. Attendees may also want to bring a poncho in case of rain. Attendees should monitor local forecasts for the Washington, D.C. area and dress for the weather conditions.

The Dedication is expected to take place rain or shine. Ticket holders and public viewing area attendees bear all risk including cancellation of the event and of inclement weather.

Extra Medications/List of Medications

Plan for a long day and bring extra needed medicines that you are currently taking or might need for ailments or allergies. Keep a list of medications you are currently taking and any serious medical conditions that you have on a list (easily accessible) to aid medical staff in case of an emergency. In case of emergency you may also want to have a list of emergency contacts on your person. Oxygen equipment as well as seeing-eye dogs will be permitted at all official Dedication events.

GETTING TO AND FROM THE DEDICATION CEREMONY

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial is located on the north-west corner of the Tidal Basin just north of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and across Independence Avenue from the Lincoln Memorial.  In anticipation of large crowds, below are suggestions for reaching the dedication site.

Walk

The memorial is a short walk from downtown D.C. and the National Mall.  Attendees staying in the downtown area and in close proximity to the mall should walk or use public transportation or taxi to get as close to the memorial site as street closures permit.  Walking distance from the Washington Convention Center is approximately 2.5 miles. Download this brochure with walking directions to the Dedication Ceremony.

Metro

The Metro subway system is easily accessible from many areas in D.C., VA and MD. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to avoid crowds. The Metrorail system opens at 5:00AM on the morning of Dedication. Please visit the Metro website at www.wmata.com for details concerning the opening of a specific station and the travel time to your suggested destination. For walking directions from the Metro station, download this brochure.

Due to the possibility of extremely crowded conditions and limited capacity at all stations servicing the Official Dedication Ceremony, we advise you to use the following stations when arriving to or leaving from the memorial site:

Arriving from Stations for access to the Official Dedication Ceremony
Virginia (south): Franconia-Springfield (BLUE LINE) / Huntington (YELLOW LINE) Arlington Cemetery
Virginia (west): Vienna (ORANGE LINE) Farragut West
Maryland (east): New Carrollton (ORANGE LINE) / Largo Town Center (BLUE LINE) Farragut West
Maryland (north/south): Greenbelt or Branch Avenue (GREEN LINE) L’Enfant Plaza
Maryland (north): Shady Grove or Glenmont (RED LINE) Farragut North

TIPS for Metrorail Riders:

  • August in Washington DC can be very hot and humid. Dress appropriately.
  • Wear comfortable shoes.
  • Each passenger must have his/her own fare card or SmarTrip card.
  • Purchase a One-Day Pass or be sure to have enough fare value on their SmarTrip cards or farecards to make a round trip so as not to have to stand in line to add fare more than once.
    One-day passes: $9.00 Pass is valid for one day of unlimited Metrorail travel on weekdays after 9:30 a.m. or all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and some federal holidays. Pass expires at the end of the operating day: 3 a.m. on weekends, midnight on weeknights.
  • MLK Commemorative Metrorail One Day Pass - A Limited-Edition paper pass to commemorate the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Valid for one day of unlimited Metrorail travel on weekdays after 9:30 a.m. or all day Saturdays, Sundays or federal holidays. The pass expires at 4:00 a.m. on the day following first day of use.
  • Do not bring large coolers, signs or chairs. Trains will be very crowded and you will be carrying your items over a mile to and from the memorial site.
  • Identify multiple routes to the memorial site in case the station you were planning to use is inaccessible. Trains may not stop at a station that is too crowded. The Smithsonian Metrorail station on the National Mall can become overcrowded on a typical summer weekend and trains may bypass the station. The escalators at the Foggy Bottom station are undergoing an extensive replacement project and access to the station is affected.