The Madame C.J. Walker Museum celebrates the life and contributions of America’s first female self-made millionaire and a leading African American philanthropist. It also tells the story of WERD, the first Black-owned and Black-programmed radio station in the U.S., which broadcast messages from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders. The museum, located in a historic building that housed Walker’s beauty salon and the WERD radio station, holds a rich collection of music and memorabilia, preserving a legacy of African American culture that also touches the story of civil rights in Atlanta. It showcases works from artists such as Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson, whose songs inspired and unified those fighting for equality and justice. Situated in Atlanta’s historic Sweet Auburn District, the museum is adjacent to the barbershop Dr. King frequented and is located near his office, birth home and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. Collectively, these landmarks tell the compelling story of a neighborhood that was at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement.

