First Images Of Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Construction Site Now Available Via Web Camera

(Press Release) - A new "MLK Construction Cam" is up and running to allow every American and citizen around the world to tour the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial worksite on the National Mall. To view the site, visit www.MLKMemorial.org/earthcam.

This is an interactive experience where viewers can control the camera, zoom in and out and view a 180 degree panoramic landscape to monitor construction at the Tidal Basin worksite. New images are uploaded from the camera to the website every hour.

"Our staff has been working on this new EarthCam along with Verizon for some time, because we felt our supporters around the globe deserved a look at exactly what their financial donations are going towards," said Harry E. Johnson, Sr., President and CEO of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation.

The Memorial plans include 340 structural piles, a 2,350 cubic ft. granite wall weighing 194 tons, 47,000 sq. ft. of granite paving, granite sculptures and the installation of 185 Yoshino cherry trees, 32 American elm trees and 16,835 pieces of Big Blue Liriope plantings.

"With continued help, we will be able to keep our construction schedule on track and raise the additional funds we need to finish construction, and that's why I hope everyone will do one more favor," said Johnson. "After checking out our 'MLK Construction Cam,' please make a donation to the Foundation to help us finish construction on time."

To date, the Foundation has raised $107 of the $120 million needed to build the memorial. The Memorial is expected to be completed in 2011.

The following entities have made major donations to the Memorial Foundation: General Motors, Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, NBA/WNBA, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Walt Disney Company Foundation, The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Ford Motor Fund, Toyota, AARP, AFLAC, Boeing, Inc., BP America, Inc., CIGNA, Credit Unions of the United States, DuPont, ExxonMobil Foundation, Fannie Mae Corporation, FedEx Corporation, GE, Ann and Joel Horowitz Family Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Sheila C. Johnson-Newman, Lehman Brothers, George Lucas, MacFarlane Partners, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, McDonald’s Corporation, MetLife Foundation, National Association of Realtors (NAR), National Education Association (NEA), Nationwide Foundation, PepsiCo Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Pfizer Foundation, Prudential Financial, Inc., Shell Oil Company, State Farm Insurance, The Travelers Companies, Inc., Verizon Foundation, Viacom, Wal-Mart and Morehouse College, among others.

About the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.
A Memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be built on the National Mall, situated adjacent to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Congress passed Joint Resolutions in 1996 authorizing Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to establish a Memorial honoring Dr. King to be built in Washington, D.C. The ceremonial groundbreaking took place on November 13, 2006, and the Memorial will be completed in 2011. McKissack & McKissack / Turner Construction Company/ Gilford Corporation / Tompkins Builders, Inc. Joint Venture will serve as the Design-Build Team. McKissack & McKissack is the oldest minority-owned architectural firm in the United States. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.buildthedream.org.