Kelly Ingram Park and Civil Rights District
Introduction
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For more information about the history of the civil rights movement, read Nick Patterson's Birmingham Foot Soldiers:: Voices from the Civil Rights Movement-click the link below for more info.
Backstory and Context
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The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is located in the Civil Rights District and is one of the leading attractions for visitors to the city. The institute opened in 1993 and includes exhibits that preserve, interpret, and share the many struggles and victories of the civil rights movement. The district is also home to the Gaston Hotel, a Black-owned business that served as a meeting place for Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
16th Street Baptist Church is most famous for the tragic bombing by white supremacists on September 15, 1963 that injured 22 and killed four young girls. The church was targeted for its activity in the movement, including its role as a place where young people trained in non-violent tactics prior to the 1963 Children's Campaign.