Griffin Speaks
DEXTER PARSONAGE MUSEUM
Over
the years I have toured many fascinating places. I once strolled around the
Sisteen Chapel while spending the summer in Italy as an exchange student.
The Sisteen Chapel Ceiling is by far one of the most amazing paintings of
all time. Michelangelo Buonarroti finished it in 1512. He worked on the
painting every day. He laid flat on his back 65 feet above the floor to
paint the magnificent scenes. All of the scenes were based on stories in the
Bible. The Centerpiece is the “Creation of Adam”. It shows God breathing
life into Adam, the first man.
I
have toured with much amazement the Coliseum of Ancient Rome. The Coliseum
was constructed during the reign of Emperor Vespasiano c. 72 AD and
dedicated in 80 AD by his son Titus. Over 160 feet tall with eighty
entrances, the Coliseum could hold 50,000 guests. Inside the arena public
events such as gladiator fights, mock naval battles and wild animal hunts
were held. Guests saw Christians thrown to the lions. After 404 AD gladiator
fights were no longer held, but animals such as lions, elephants and snakes
and panthers continued to be destroyed in the name of sport until the 6th
century. Only a wall 15 feet high separated the guests from the bloody
events occurring in the arena. Today, the Coliseum is one of the most famous
tourist attractions in Rome, Italy. It survives only as a ruin yet it is
still rated as one of the finest examples of Roman architecture and
engineering.
I
have toured Niagara Falls here in America and Canada. If you are a regular reader of my column then you know what a
breath taking experience I found that to be. The falls attracts some 12
million visitors a year. The falls produce 150,000 U.S. Gallons of water per
second. It is an awesome sight.
I
have toured the Empire State Building. Once again the world’s tallest
skyscraper in New York City. It was forty years until they built the World
Trade Center. It only took two years to build the Empire State Building, but
it instantly became a tourist attraction. It’s such a fascinating tour
even King Kong came to visit.
However,
none of the above mentioned tours has
touched or moved me as much as my recent tour of the Dexter Parsonage Museum
right here in my own back yard in Montgomery, Alabama.
The Museum portrays Dr. Martin Luther King as a husband, father and
pastor while his fame was rising as symbolic leader of the Civil Rights
Movement. When I walked through the parsonage and saw how Dr. King and his
family lived during the turbulent years of 1954 to 1960 I was awe struck.
The home consists of seven rooms which include furniture that was actually
used by the King family. It was in the pastor’s study where many meetings
were hosted, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Southern Christian
Leadership Conference was formed in the dining room. You can actually see
the crater on the front porch left by a dynamite blast while Coretta and
their baby Yolanda were home. In addition to the fine exhibits in the
Interpretive Center there is the awesome staff led by Ms. Avis Dumbar,
formerly Avis Stringer. She has returned to Montgomery and is doing a
fantastic job as the Museum’s Director. When Debra and I finished the tour
I looked at Debra and said, “I know Judge Vanzetta Penn McPherson must
have had her hand on this project.” I later learned that she was in charge
of decorations. The folks at Dexter should give themselves a great pat on
the back because they have really DONE
IT!!! The museum is open for tours on Monday through Friday from 9:00 to
4:00 p.m. and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00p.m. on Saturday. Adult admission is
$3, and children under 12 are admitted for $2. Joint hours of the parsonage
and the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church will also be available.
Greg
Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by
visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com
