Despite the controversy surrounding the design of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the quote that Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar ordered changed last week, the newest addition to the National Mall has become a popular spot for visitors and photographers.

Whether the piercing stare on Dr. King’s face or the way his likeness cuts an imposing figure against the sky, our Flickr pool has had a steady stream of pictures of the memorial since it opened to the public last August. In commemoration of Dr. King’s birthday and the federal holiday that bears his name, here is but a small sampling of the images we’ve enjoyed over the recent months from our talented local photographers.

On a related note, local filmmaker Monica Gray recently sat down with Harry Johnson, president and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation for his thoughts on King’s legacy.