NORFOLK — A state historical marker will be dedicated Monday at the Attucks Theatre as part of the city’s Martin Luther King Day Jr. celebration.
Following remarks inside the theatre beginning at 9 a.m., Mayor Kenny Alexander and members of the City Council will unveil the marker outside the theater at 1010 Church St.
After the dedication, an event highlighting King’s life — “A Celebration of Unity & Freedom in Song” — will be held inside the theater, to be followed by a unity march on nearby streets.
The Attucks Theatre is named for Crispus Attucks, believed the first person killed in the Boston Massacre in 1770.
Built in 1919, the theater was designed by a Black architect, Harvey Johnson, and financed and built by African Americans. It’s been a venue for concerts, movies, plays, and community events. Ruth Brown, Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie have performed there.
The historical marker was approved by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources and paid for by the City of Norfolk. Monday’s event is free and open to the public. Roadside parking will be available.
Peter Dujardin, 757-897-2062, pdujardin@dailypress.com
