Photos: 18 historic images from the 1963 March on Washington

Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King Jr. waved to supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963, during the March on Washington.
AFP | Getty Images 1963

This week marks the 52nd anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The civil rights rally on Aug. 28, 1963, featured the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech in front of a crowd estimated at 250,000 people.

The impact was immense.

"It became not just the largest political demonstration to date in American history, but also the beginning of a new era, defined by the phrase 'I have a dream,'" Time magazine said in the introduction to its coverage of the march's 50th anniversary.

Want to watch or listen to King's celebrated speech in its entirety? It's less readily available than you might think.

"The oration, as famous a speech as there is in American history, is private property, not in the public domain," The Washington Post reported in 2010.

While King's speeches and papers are owned by his estate, NPR celebrated King's legacy with a broadcast of the speech a few years ago. Alternatively, The King Center sells an "I Have a Dream DVD" for $20.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.