AS SEEN ON

Riding Along Toyota's Black History Tour

Last February, Toyota conducted a Black History Tour. As a child of the 1960s, and witness to riots in Baltimore after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I was super excited to attend to learn more about our history, and was joined by several journalist and blogger peers… Read more »

Civil rights tourism sees more demand and destinations

Tom Houck leaned toward a window at the front of his coach bus and pointed to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site on Atlanta’s historic Auburn Avenue. His audience, some 40 college students, peered out at King’s childhood home, his church, his and his wife Coretta’s burial grounds and other landmarks. Read […]

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Atlanta: Other historic sites

The life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is entwined with the city of Atlanta. King’s birthplace, his home church and a cultural center devoted to his memory are among the historic sites clustered in the King Historic District near downtown Atlanta. Read more »

Atlanta: Crossroads of the World

Atlanta International Airport has been the world’s busiest hub since 1998, with 100 million passengers going through its terminals each year, connecting the city to the world, driving the booming economy, and making it the No. 3 destination for domestic travelers (behind just Orlando and Chicago). One reason Atlanta is a favorite to visit is […]

Driving Home the Message of Atlanta's Civil Rights Legacy

If you join Tom Houck on his Atlanta Civil Rights Tour bus, he’s quick to tell you that he was once a driver for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s family, but also a “helluva organizer” who went to jail about 20 times during the Civil Rights Movement. Read more »

Did the 'dream' die or did it endure?

Martin Luther King Jr. was many things to many people: minister, activist, visionary. But Tom Houck, former personal assistant and driver for King, saw a side that was often unseen. In his first visit to Penn State on Jan. 18 as part of the university’s MLK Commemoration Week, Houck shared his behind-the-scenes story highlighting the […]

As interest in civil rights tourism grows, Atlanta is a key spot

Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Anne Elizabeth Barnes grew up in Atlanta and attended Chamblee High School and Georgia State University. Despite those deep ties, Barnes delighted in discovering even more about her hometown when she went on a Civil Rights Tour a year or so ago. Read more here: http://www.myajc.com/news/lifestyles/as-interest-in-civil-rights-tourism-grows-atlanta-/nsxxf/

Driving Dr. King and the civil rights tour of Atlanta with Tom Houck

One day, one lunch…can change the course of your life. In the case of Tom Houck, that day took place in 1966 when he was offered a ride by Martin Luther King Jr. Tom is now 68 and gives guided tours of the Atlanta he got to know while driving Dr. King. Read more here: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/docproject/driving-dr-king-and-the-civil-rights-tour-of-atlanta-with-tom-houck-1.3730853 […]

MLK’s Driver Leads Tour Through Atlanta Civil Rights History

Fifty years ago, a 19-year-old Tom Houck stood in front of the Southern Christian Leadership Committee (SCLC) headquarters on Auburn Avenue and waited for a ride to the Freedom House where he was staying…. Read the full article here: http://news.wabe.org/post/mlk-s-driver-leads-tour-through-atlanta-civil-rights-history

Black History Month travel destinations

African-American History Month began as “Negro History Week” in February 1926, initiated by historian Carter G. Woodson to recognize achievements related to the Black Diaspora…. Read the full article here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/bs-tr-black-history-destinations-20160129-story.html  

Let’s plan your custom tour

Please use the form below to let us know about your group and event. Our typical bus is a 32 passenger vehicle, but we need to hold 2 spaces for the guide and facilitator. We prefer not touring in the larger motor coaches and prefer using our own buses due to potential audio/visual issues on other coaches. Email us at houcktom80@gmail.com or give us a call at: (404) 386-0992.