Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Activity Overview

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a museum and research center in Birmingham, Alabama that is dedicated to the history of the American Civil Rights Movement throughout the 1950s and and 1960s. Located in the city's historic Civil Rights District, it contains numerous exhibitions that teach visitors about the struggle for civil rights as well as Birmingham's role in the movement. If you have a child that is interested in American history, this is a great educational attraction to visit with them.

Things to Do

• Explore the Barriers Gallery, where you can learn about how life was different for black and white Americans under segregation policies in the early to mid-1900s.
• Visit the Movement Gallery, where you can view four different media presentations that depict historic moments like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech.
• Learn more about human rights struggles around the world by viewing the interactive exhibits in the Human Rights Gallery.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Insider Tips

• Check out the museum's calendar to learn more about upcoming events such as special exhibitions, lectures, tours, and celebrations for Black History Month and Martin Luther King Day.
• Don't miss the fascinating 8-minute film that focuses on the history of Birmingham.
• While there is street parking in the area, you can also enjoy free parking behind the institute on Fifteenth Street North.