America. It's the country that I love to call home - from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam!
There are many facets to our nation's history. Some are wonderful reflections of unity, and some, particularly during the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's, are not. Yet, I've always felt that it was necessary to give our children an honest look at our nation's past in all of its forms. All generations and families can learn much from the resilience of the people who were a part of any breakthrough in America's history. With this mind, here is a list of some great civil rights sites to aid in beginning the conversation.
Note: Some of the sites listed are better for older ages, so please plan accordingly.
Sites Featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
The catalyst of the Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Because of this, he is intertwined into most civil rights sites. In the first three sites listed, his life is prominently featured.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Site
- Atlanta, GA. At the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic site, visitors can see the boyhood home, church, and final resting place of the renowned civil rights leader. Full tours are offered of Dr. King's birth home, and also of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he was baptized and later served as pastor. The Visitor's Center offers a great visual history of the movement, as well as some personal artifacts of Dr. King. It also features a "Children of Courage" exhibit, which tells about the children of the Civil Rights Movement. My own children particularly enjoyed the "Freedom Road," in which they and other visitors joined an interactive exhibit of marchers as they marched for freedom. Free.
The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel - Memphis, TN. Yes, this is the site of Dr. Martin Luther King's death. But The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel is so much more. There are interactive permanent exhibits, including a bus that mimics that of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, an original lunch counter that allows visitors to "experience" hecklers and hear boycott stories from across the country, 260 original artifacts, oral histories, and so much more. The tour of the museum culminates in a visit to the hotel room at which Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The room is staged to reflect how it looked in April of 1968, and, admittedly, it's quite somber. Still, a visit to this museum is a must on any list of civil rights sites.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial - Washington, DC. Younger children will see this as another monument, but if you're in the Washington, DC area, it's worth a visit. It's a monument, yes, but it features many of Dr. King's most famous quotes and, majestic in stature, it's just a great site to see. As with all National Park's Service sites, Park Ranger tours are available. And, the adjoining memorial to Franklin Delano Roosevelt is also worth a visit. Free.
Other Important Civil Rights sites:
Of course, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn't the only player in the Civil Rights movement. There were countless others who played a major part in the push for progress. Here are more important sites to add to a civil rights tour.
Edmund Pettus Bridge- Selma, AL. Did you see the movie, "Selma?" This is the real-life bridge, which has become a symbol of a turning point in America's history. It was on this bridge 50 years ago that a voting rights march ended in a violent confrontation with law enforcement - a day known as Bloody Sunday. With national attention and federal protection, a rescheduled march across the bridge eventually lead to the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The complete
Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail connects all the stories of those events at Interpretive Centers. The complete trail from Selma to Montgomery is 54 miles.
Rosa Parks Library and Museum - Troy University, Montgomery, AL. Housed on the campus on Troy University - Montgomery, this three-story museum features an interpretive museum on the first floor and the campus library on the other floors. Six unique areas inside the museum tell the story of the early civil rights movement. The museum also houses an interactive Children's Wing, which features a 1950's Montgomery city bus re-created to look like a time machine that transports visitors back to the early Jim Crow era to modern-day Montgomery. The rest of the museum contains artifacts and visual displays of the movement.
Little Rock Central High School- Little Rock, AK. Our children are fortunate to have the opportunity to attend school with all children. Such wasn't always the case, and a visit the Little Rock Central High School is a good visual representation of this fact. Because Little Rock Central High School is still an active school, Park Ranger tours must be reserved in advance. Streetscape outdoor tours are also available and must also be scheduled in advance. But, if you're ever in the Little Rock area, it's worth a stop to see it and be reminded of the day that nine African American students entered the school and started the path to the full school integration that our children know today.
The Center for Civil and Human Rights - Atlanta, GA. The Center for Civil and Human Rights features a full and interactive permanent exhibit devoted to the Civil Rights Movement, as well as a collection of some of Dr. King's personal items. What differentiates this museum is that it has exhibits dedicated to other aspects of human rights - in America and globally. A downloadable family guide with supplemental activities for children is also available.
The sites listed above either offer some kid-friendly aspects, or provide a starting point for a simple discussion on civil rights and race relations during the time period. For the serious history buff, the National Park Service (NPS) has a complete list of sites in Civil Rights movement that are now a part of the NPS. This list can be accessed at
We Shall Overcome: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary.
Also, opening in Fall 2016, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC will include many real artifacts from the Civil Rights Movement. Some of these items are currently on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
Historical sites... They are admittedly not as exciting as a theme park or a beach, but many bring history lessons to life and spark important conversations with our children. And conversations are part of what keeps us moving forward!
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do keep moving forward.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Author's Note: I've been to four of the six places listed here, but I have so many more on my list!
