Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
Guide

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is the perfect introduction to the historic sites included in the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. The museum at the institute offers an interactive overview of Birmingham’s history and role in the Civil Rights Movement. A self-guided tour takes visitors by artifacts like the Freedom Rider bus and the door from the jail in which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the famous, “Letter From A Birmingham Jail.”

Tours of the 16th Street Baptist Church are available by appointment throughout the year. It was at this location on September 15, 1963, that white supremacists placed a bomb that exploded and killed four young girls. This tragedy is accepted as a major turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. It stands as a symbol of the more than 60 bombings that took place in African American churches, businesses, and homes in the city of Birmingham from 1945-1963.

Kelly Ingram Park is a staple of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. On May 3, 1963, a large group of children gathered in the park to protest segregation and inequality. These children became known as the Children’s Crusade. Birmingham Police arrived and directed fire hoses and dogs at the children, eventually arresting hundreds of those children for protesting. Today, the park honors leaders of the Civil Right movement with statues and a free audio-tour.

Located a short drive from the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument are the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and Rickwood Field. The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame shares the history of African American athletics. It includes memorabilia from famous athletes like Jesse Owens, Hank Aaron, and Joe Louis. More sports history can be found at Rickwood Field, the oldest ballpark still in use in the United States. It hosted famous black baseball players like Willie Mays and Satchel Paige.

In 1963, the A.G. Gaston Motel operated as the headquarters for the Civil Rights Campaign led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The hotel has been a staple in the African American community since its establishment in 1954. That year, an African American entrepreneur began the motel in response to a lack of accommodations in Birmingham that accepted people of color. The motel was bombed on May 10, 1963, about four months before the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

The Bethel Baptist Church is located a short drive from the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument historic sites. It served as headquarters for the Alabama Christian Movement, and was pastored by Civil Rights leader Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. The church was bombed three times, but was never closed, which is a symbol of the endurance of the Civil Rights Movement. The building has been restored to its 1960s architecture and is open to the public for tours.