Historic Memphis Church Where MLK Gave Final Speech to Get $1.2M Renovation

Federal grant will fund upgrades to Mason Temple, site of King's iconic 'Mountaintop' address

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:06am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of the exterior of Mason Temple, a historic church in Memphis, Tennessee, with the building bathed in warm, golden sunlight and deep shadows, conveying the solemn significance of this site where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final speech.The upcoming renovation of Mason Temple, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final speech, will help preserve this hallowed site of the Civil Rights Movement.Memphis Today

Mason Temple, the Memphis church where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final speech the night before his assassination, will receive a $1.2 million federal grant to fund long-term facility improvements and technology upgrades. The grant is part of a nearly $18 million package for Memphis projects included in the annual congressional appropriations process.

Why it matters

The renovation of Mason Temple, a historic site of the Civil Rights Movement, will help preserve the legacy of MLK and the pivotal role the church played in the movement. The funding will ensure the church can continue to serve as an important community gathering space and educational resource.

The details

The $1.2 million grant will go towards upgrading the facility and infrastructure at Mason Temple, where King delivered his famous 'I've Been to the Mountaintop' speech on April 3, 1968, the night before he was assassinated. The package also includes $3.1 million to restore the nearby Clayborn Temple, which was heavily damaged by a fire in 2025 and served as a staging area for the 1968 sanitation workers strike that brought King to Memphis.

  • King delivered his final speech at Mason Temple on April 3, 1968, the night before his assassination.
  • A memorial service for Tyre Nichols was held at Mason Temple in January 2023.
  • The $1.2 million federal grant for Mason Temple renovations is expected to be announced at a news conference on Monday.

The players

Martin Luther King Jr.

The renowned civil rights leader who delivered his final speech at Mason Temple in Memphis on April 3, 1968, the night before his assassination.

Church Of God in Christ

The religious organization that owns and operates Mason Temple, which serves as its world headquarters.

Steve Cohen

A Democratic U.S. Representative from Memphis who first announced the $1.2 million federal grant for Mason Temple renovations in February.

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What they’re saying

“I've seen the Promised Land. … I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.”

— Martin Luther King Jr.

“It's a tin roof, so that's banging. There's rafters up there above us, and the rafters are blowing with the wind and hitting each other and hitting the walls from the fierceness of the wind and the rain.”

— Rev. James Lawson, Civil Rights Activist

“Ministers, men were crying.”

— Rev. Jesse Jackson

What’s next

More details on the planned renovations and upgrades to Mason Temple are expected to be announced at Monday's news conference with Church Of God in Christ leaders and Congressman Steve Cohen.

The takeaway

The $1.2 million federal grant to renovate Mason Temple, the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s final and iconic speech, underscores the enduring significance of this historic church to the Civil Rights Movement and the ongoing efforts to preserve its legacy for future generations.