Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza at Eastern Michigan University
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GT.US
N 42° 14.774 W 083° 37.406
17T E 283565 N 4680448
The Bust of Martin Luther King Jr. is the center point of the memorial plaza.
Waymark Code: WM5WTP
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 02/22/2009
Views: 9
The Martin Luther King Jr. plaza is a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. In addition to the bust of MLK, there are four bronze panels on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The SMithsonian web site at (
visit link) tells us in part:
Bust of Martin Luther King Jr. on a tall pedestal in landscaped plaza setting with four reliefs arranged in a semi-circle on the south side. Dr. King wears a suit and tie. The reliefs depict scenes from his life. "Bus Boycott" has a view of Rosa Parks sitting by the window on a bus with a group of protesters below. "Letter from Jail" shows Dr. King in a jail cell with books and papers in front of him. Dr. King is giving a speech in "I Have a Dream." "Free at Last" is a more abstract piece with flame and drape-like forms.
Artist: Sippel, Nancy, sculptor.
Title: Martin Luther King, Jr., (sculpture).
Dates: 1989.
Medium: Sculpture: bronze; Base: concrete.
Dimensions: Sculpture: approx. 30 x 25 x 17 in.; Base: approx. 55 x 22 x 18 in.
Inscription: (On bust, lower rear:) NC Sippel or N.G. Sippel (On plaque on base, front:) MARTIN LUTHER KING JR/JANUARY 15, 1929/APRIL 4, 1968 (Titles on reliefs behind the bust read, from east to west:) BUS BOYCOTT/LETTER FROM JAIL/I HAVE A DREAM/FREE AT LAST signed
Located: Eastern Michigan University, Between Ford Hall & Cross Street, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Remarks: The sculpture was completed while the artist was a student at the University. IAS files contain detailed dimensions of the relief plaques.
Condition: Surveyed 1993 April. Well maintained.