Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in University Circle.
Many area museums and institutions will offer free or discounted admission, and special activities to commemorate Dr. King.
On Monday, January 19, Univeristy Circle Inc. will provide a FREE shuttle bus to take visitors to the participating organizations in University Circle. The shuttle will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and will stop at the following locations:
– Western Reserve Historical Society
– Cleveland Museum of Natural History
– Cleveland Museum of Art
– Cleveland Botanical Garden
– Cleveland Public Library, MLK Jr. Branch
– The Children’s Museum of Cleveland
– MOCA Cleveland
– Severance Hall
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
University Circle Inc.
Special Open Skate Hours at The Rink
Monday, January 19
Noon-7 p.m.
Free Admission, $3 skate rental
The Children’s Museum of Cleveland
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, January 19
10 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
Half-Price Admission ($4)
Celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with your community at The Children’s Museum of Cleveland. Admission is half price today ($4.00) and we will be open regular museum hours from 10-4:45pm. We will be honoring Dr. King by creating a Collaborative Community Peace Quilt which will later be sewn together and displayed in the museum. Children can draw their dreams, doodle or write descriptions on our muslin squares then add them to our Quilt. We will be embellishing the quilt squares from 11:00am-4:00pm. You will also enjoy Egyptian Sands: Ancient Egyptian Family Life and our 3 permanent exhibits; Big Red Barn, Bridges to Our Community, and Splish! Splash!
Cleveland Botanical Garden
MLK Day at the Garden
Monday, January 19
FREE
Using seeds and plants important to African American agriculture, make a children’s craft to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The craft will take place from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cleveland Museum of Art
Seek Happiness for Others: Celebrating the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, January 19
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
FREE
The Cleveland Museum of Art will open its doors for a free daylong celebration of art, music, and film in celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Family-friendly activities, storytelling, and song will fill the galleries to honor Dr. King’s vision of altruism and acceptance.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrate MLK Day at CMNH
Monday, January 19
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
FREE
The Museum is revving up for a great day of discovery! The curators will talk with guests outside of their labs and show specimens that are not usually on display. Experience the Ice Age in the Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age exhibition. Enjoy mini Shafran Planetarium shows for just $1 per person. Participate in amazing demonstrations with scientists and students from Case Western Reserve University. Meet Cleveland’s neighborhood wildlife in special live animal presentations. Visit the Smead Discovery Center on the lower level and make a craft to take home. $10 flat rate parking in the Museum lot.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Community Open House in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, January 19
Noon-5 p.m.
FREE
The Cleveland Orchestra welcomes you to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with vocal, instrumental, and dance presentations by some of Cleveland’s finest community performing arts groups, honoring Dr. King’s ideals and spirit. For a complete activity list, download the PDF on the right-hand side of this page.
Cleveland Public Library, MLK Jr. Branch
30th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemortive Program
Monday, January 19
Noon
FREE
The drum beat for change remains strong as each new generation continues the struggle. Join the Cleveland Public Library and the Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity (Dr. King’s fraternity) in commemorating Dr. King’s life and honoring his legacy of leadership in the struggle for civil rights. Keynote address presented by Pastor Richard M. Gibson, Elizabeth Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH. A community reception follows the program.
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Hear Our Voices
Monday, January 19
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
FREE
Honor the spirit and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at our annual free admission day. Hear from Pushcart-nominated poet, a TEDx speaker, and an acclaimed facilitator of critical identity discussions Aaron Levy Samuels, sing for social change with a look back at protest music, join a public peace pledge and discuss the role of the media as a voice for the community.
MOCA Cleveland
MLK Day at MOCA
Monday, January 19
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
FREE
Main Floor, Gund Commons
– 11:00 a.m. – An Authentic Life: Joyce J. Scott
– Noon – Freedom Riders
– 2:00 p.m. – An Authentic Life: Joyce J. Scott
– 3:00 p.m. – Freedom Riders
3rd Floor, Tallalay: Video Preview of Upcoming Exhibits
AN AUTHENTIC LIFE: JOYCE J. SCOTT
(Film Length 58 min.)
Art world experts and childhood friends offer an intimate portrayal of the internationally acclaimed artist, Joyce. J. Scott, whose work draws audiences in with beauty and humor, then challenges them to consider uncomfortable subjects such as race, class, gender and genocide. This documentary provides a taste of what’s to come when the exhibit, Joyce J. Scott: Truths and Visions, opens at MOCA Cleveland on January 29.
FREEDOM RIDERS
(Film Length: 1 hr, 53 min)
This is the story behind a courageous band of civil rights activists called the Freedom Riders who in 1961 creatively challenged segregation in the American South. In the face of bitter racism and mob violence, over 400 black and white Americans tested their belief in nonviolent activism to demand racial justice and change America forever.
* Please note that the galleries will be closed on this date.
Western Reserve Historical Society
Celebrate MLK Day at WRHS
Monday, January 19
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
FREE
“What is your cause?” WRHS will have information about organizations who fight for rights of all kinds (animal, civil, LGBT, etc.) on display throughout the museum. Films about MLK and his cause will be rolling in the Community Conference Room. Visitors will have the opportunity to tell us about their cause through writing or drawing about it in the Rotunda.
Case Western Reserve University
Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation featuring Charlayne Hunter-Gault
Friday, January 23
12:30 p.m.
FREE
Tinkham Veale University Center Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation Ballroom
Each year, Case Western Reserve University honors Martin Luther King, Jr.—the holiday, the man and the legacy—with a weeklong celebration that concludes with the convocation featuring award winning journalist, Charlayne Hunter-Gault.
www.case.edu/events/mlk
This was courtesy of Destination Cleveland. Visit universitycircle.org for more information.
