The National Voting Rights Museum and Institute is the only such Institution of its kind in the world. Photography and video exhibits, documents, personal notes and artifacts from the struggle are housed in its archives.

Historical photo of the struggle for voting rights.

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The National Voting Rights Museum and Institute displays materials and artifacts from the voting rights struggle in America, especially those that highlight the experiences, which fueled "Bloody Sunday”, the Selma to Montgomery March, and the Civil Rights Movement throughout the South. The NVRMI provides research forums, community action, and makes presentations that impact or support voting rights issues in America.  

National Voting Rights Museum and Institute

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During the Civil Rights Movement Selma Alabama had its own series of marches that resulted in the "Bloody Sunday" attack on peaceful protestors on Edmund Pettus Bridge. This tour visits several buildings and locations throughout Selma that are notable for their connection to the Civil Rights Movement. This tour begins at the Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church and ends at the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute where you can learn more about the struggle for voting rights and the Civil Rights Movement.

In 1965, Alabama was a very racially divided state. African Americans did not yet have equal voting rights and, therefore, planned a series of marches in Selma as part of the civil rights movement. Two marches took place prior to, perhaps, the most significant march from Selma to Montgomery. The march began on March 21st, lasted&nbsp;5 days (March 21-March 25), extended for 54 miles, and comprised of roughly 3,200 people. At the heart of this march was Martin Luther King, Jr. On March 21, 1965, marchers gathered outside of the Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma and from there, began their journey to Montgomery. The peaceful demonstration was protected by the National Guard, as well as the FBI. Over the&nbsp;5 day period, marchers walked an average of&nbsp;12 miles each day (between 7 and 17 miles daily). The march was continuous with little stopping. They slept wherever their journey ended for the day, which typically meant in the nearest field. As the days went on, the participation grew, with the final day comprising of nearly 25,000 demonstrators. When the group reached the capitol, King delivered a message to the marchers, promising that one day they would live in a society where all men would be judged on their character and not the color of their skin. The same day, a petition was given to Alabama Governor George Wallace, but was denied. However, less than 5 months later, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Martin Luther King, Jr. instilled faith and hope that all men and women would be treated equally, regardless of race. One of the most important ways to participate in society was&nbsp;having the right to vote. Because of the relentless efforts and passion put forth by demonstrators, African Americans finally received equal voting rights. The marches that took place in Selma, particularly that on March 21st, is why the city is credited for changing history and producing equal voting rights for all.

Outside of the Brown Chapel AME Church is a historical marker remembering the events that occurred in Selma, AL. March 21, 1965 marked the peak of the civil rights movement when over 3,000 people joined Martin Luther King, Jr. on a march for equal voting rights. The 5 day, 54 mile march began outside of the Brown Chapel AME Church and was to move onward to the capital in Montgomery. Successful in their efforts, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 just months after this demonstration.

Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church: "I Had A Dream" Historical Marker 

In the early and mid-1960s First Baptist church, although invested in the Civil Rights Movement since the 1950s, became a significant location for the formation of civil rights campaigns. The First Baptist Church was a gathering place for civil rights meetings that led to such events as the Montgomery Bus Boycott from 1955-1956 and the Freedom rides in May 1961. In addition, it hosted meetings for SNCC, and it was one of the locations activists used to organize marches that eventually lead to the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was here that the Selma campaign, known as the Selma to Montgomery March, began. &nbsp;Despite being outlawed by the Governor George Wallace, nearly 600 African American protesters gathered to march to Montgomery. Seeing that the state outlawed protests, protesters were met with opposition from the Alabama State Police. Just six blocks from where the march began, mounted troops were waiting for the protesters. When met by the troops, the protesters stood their ground, even after being advised to disperse.&nbsp; When protesters refused to leave, they were met with billy clubs, tear gas, bullwhips, and rubber tubing wrapped in barbed wire, courtesy of Sheriff Jim Clark’s “deputized posse.” As all this occurred, white onlookers cheered. The march was led by the leaders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and SNCC. The leaders of the first march were Hosea Williams and John Lewis respectively. In the midst of the commotion John Lewis’ skull was fractured as he fell to the ground along with other protesters who fell and screamed as they were met with violence. After this march, thousands of people came to Selma to participate in the other two marches, the third of which ended in a victory for the marchers.For its role in the ending of segregation, First Baptist Church was made a historical landmark in the state of Alabama in 2000.

First Baptist Church along with Brown Chapel AME Church were pivotal locations of the Civil Rights Movement. Located in Selma, Alabama a vital place in the civil rights movement, not only did they play a role in Selma, but in the movement as a whole. Built in 1894 by a local Black architect by the name of Dave Benjamin West, the church is considered to be one of the most architecturally significant Black churches in the state of those from the late 19th-Century. This small church would go on to host monument meetings, which, in turn, made giant progressions in the fight for equality.  

First Baptist Church

Richard Byron Hudson is held in high esteem for his distinguished career in the education field. Among his many accomplishments are, Principal of Clark School for 41 years, Secretary, National Baptist Convention for 25 years. Superintendent, Tabernacle Baptist Church Sunday School for 30 years and Endowment Treasurer, Masonic Lodge of Alabama for 20 years. The civil rights movement was a struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s for Blacks to gain equal rights under the law in the United States. The Civil War had officially abolished slavery, but it didn’t end discrimination against Blacks, they continued to endure the devastating effects of racism, especially in the South. From 1963 to 1965 this school had over 5,000 students arrested for protesting during the Civil Rights Movement.  After integration in 1970, the school name changed to West Junior High School. In 2000, the school name changed to Chatt Academy. On May 10, 2012, R.B. Hudson's name was finally reestablished, and the school is now known as the R.B. Hudson High School.

This school was the city of Selma's first public high school for African-Americans. Completed in 1949, the school was named in honor of Richard Byron Hudson, a Black educator. R.B Hudson High School played a major role for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Students that attended this school participated first hand with issues that effect the Civil Rights Movement. 

R.B Hudson High School

Every town or city has a cemetery that is held close to somebodies heart because of loved ones final resting places. However not every cemetery holds a body of somebody that is nationally knew. The case with Live Oak Cemetery is that it holds many people of distinction including a former Vice President of the United States. Along with two former United States Senators who served in the Confederacy. The Cemetery was erected as a State historic place in 1972. William Rufus King a former Vice President of the United States who was the 13th Vice President serving only 6 weeks prior to his death in office. John Tyler Morgan&nbsp; and Edmund Winston Pettus both were former United States Senators along with a former Brigadier Generals with the Confederacy. Nathaniel Dawson who was the U.S. Commissioner of Education. William Hardee Lt. General with the confederacy also an author of the book Hardees Tactics. Catesby ap Roger Jones a commander with the Confederacy Navy who commanded the CSS Virginia. Lastly Robert Barnwell Episcopal Bishop of Alabama. The cemetery is a must see for anybody that enjoys historic places. There is a historic marker outside of the cemetery marking the location of it. There is special tombs and markers over the locations of the historic people inside of the cemetery . A special memorial was erected inside the cemetery for the confederacy soldiers in the Confederate Monument and Memorial located inside the cemetery. There are two sections to the cemetery left and right that are older and newer sections.

In the deep south in the heart of the struggle for the Civil Rights movement there is a Cemetery in Selma, Alabama that houses several people of distinction. A former Vice President of the United States and two United States Senators who were also Generals with the Confederacy. Along with several other men of distinction the commander of the Virginia during one of the significant Naval battles during the Civil War. There is also a Confederate Monument and Memorial in the Cemetery.

Live Oak Cemetery 

Edmund Pettus was born in 1821 in Limestone County, Alabama, going to public school and studied law at Tuscumbia, Alabama and was admitted to the states bar in 1842. During the Mexican American War he served at a Lieutenant with the Alabama Volunteers and after the way he actually moved to California for a few year before returning to Alabama. Where he ended up serving as a judge for about 3 year before returning to life as a lawyer. Pettus was a highly outspoken advocate for the Confederate states. He was actually a delegate for the secession convention. He helped organize the 20th Alabama Infantry and became one of its first officers. He was captured a few times by union troops escaping every time or took part in a exchange of troops was freed. Usually every time after his exchange he was promoted a rank and eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He was given brigade control of the army of Tennessee. He participated in the Confederates defense of the deep south during Shermans march to the sea. Pettus was sent to the defense of Columbia, South Carolina. When the Confederacy surrendered to the Union Pettus received a pardon from the United States Government. After the war Pettus returned to his life of law practice in Selma, which is when he moved into this historic house. He led the Klu Kux Klan while living in Selma as the grand master. During this time he also served in the United States senate first in 1897 and later in 1903. He died in Hot Springs, California in 1907, His body is buried in Live Oak Cemetery in Selma. His legacy lives on with a bridge in Selma, Alabama being named after him.

Edmund Pettus was a lawyer a General in the Confederate Army and was a United States senator. The Edmund Pettus Bridge was named after him which was the site of the Bloody Sunday Events during the Civil Rights battles during the sixties. The ironic thing about the bridge that would be site of a major civil rights battle being named after Edmund was that he was a member of the Klu Klux Klan. Although for many years he did not live in this house in Selma spending many of his early years in different states. He lived in this house from 1866 until his death in 1907.

Edmund Winston Pettus House Site 

<div>This sister museum to the National Voting Rights Museum, this museum houses exhibits that depict historical, topical, and provocative impacts and occurrences during slavery in America. The museum experience begins in ancient Africa, with the builders of pyramids, remarkable structures,&nbsp;and cultural treasures&nbsp; Visitors will hear&nbsp;the story through song, visuals and interactive engagement. Totally unfunded, the museum relies on the creativity of local artists, storytellers,&nbsp;and musicians to place the visitor in the heart of the story.</div>A makeshift slave ship, Door of No Return, auction blocks, and plantation and rebellion scenes incite the imagination and move the human spirit to find the truth without the bitter pill of hate and retribution.<div>The stories in the Hall of Resistance at the museum are captured in the “Resistance” song that is a creative reminder to youth to resist drugs, alcohol, violence and other vices that can limit the human potential. The song is one of the many songs in their self-published book,&nbsp;“There’s A River Flowing.”&nbsp; The museum&nbsp;partnered with the Perry County School System to bring the history of resistance into the classroom through music and the arts. The songbook was written with the help of students to guide the infusion of that history into the classroom. More than 50 years after the U.S. Supreme Court considered in&nbsp;Brown v. Board of Education&nbsp;the white doll/Black doll experience’s adverse impact on Black children in segregated schools. The museum is very active in the community and has events planned regularly. &nbsp;Annie Pearl Avery, an original member of the&nbsp;Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Bob Moses, James Foreman, and other Civil Rights legends, works&nbsp;at the museum under a senior citizens program.&nbsp;</div>

The Ancient Africa, Enslavement and Civil War Museum is dedicated to preserving and educating the public about African American history from ancient civilizations in Africa through the Civil War. It is located not far from the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where, in 1965, voting rights activists were severely beaten by police as they tried to march across the bridge. The museum aims to give visitors a greater understanding of slavery and the impact it has had on American history.  

Ancient Africa, Enslavement and Civil War Museum

James Joseph&nbsp;Reeb&nbsp;was born on January 1st&nbsp;1927 in Kansas. James was raised in a low-income household but excelled in school and extra-curricular activities such as&nbsp;debate. He later&nbsp;went&nbsp;on to serve in the United States Army during World War II. After attending college at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, he served as a chaplain at Philadelphia General Hospital.​James&nbsp;Reeb&nbsp;took on many honorable positions throughout his life including social work and&nbsp;volunteering&nbsp;with inner city youth. He started his ministries as a&nbsp;Presbyterian&nbsp;chaplain at a&nbsp;Philadelphia hospital. Later he&nbsp;transferred to the Unitarian church called All Souls Church in a&nbsp;predominately Black neighborhood. He then&nbsp;moved to Boston to work for American Friends Service Committee where he was working to improve conditions in the slum neighborhoods of Boston.&nbsp;​On March 7th, 1965 James&nbsp;learned&nbsp;of the attacks on the Selma marchers who were attempting to cross the Edmund&nbsp;Pettus&nbsp;Bridge on their pilgrimage from&nbsp;Montgomery&nbsp;to the state capitol. The marchers never made it to the capitol as they were attacked on the&nbsp;bridge by sheriffs and state troopers. At least sixty protesters were injured and the day&nbsp;became known in history as “Bloody Sunday.” Martin Luther King and other leaders made a call across the country for clergy to join them for a second march on March 9th&nbsp;1965. James&nbsp;Reeb answered this call and took a flight to join other ministers for the protest. The march took place on March 9th&nbsp;at 3pm. There had been an injunction granted by a federal judge against the march, so Martin Luther King&nbsp;arranged&nbsp;a compromise to only march to the end of the bridge and then turn around and come back. They marched across the bridge where they were stopped by police;&nbsp;they&nbsp;were given permission to pray then they&nbsp;proceeded&nbsp;to turn around and march back into Selma. At this point King asked that they stay overnight because he was hopeful that the same judge would grant an injunction to allow them to march the next day.​After hearing this,&nbsp;Reeb&nbsp;decided to stay overnight.&nbsp;&nbsp;After a long day, James and two other colleagues&nbsp;decided&nbsp;to walk to get something to eat. They preferred an integrated restaurant and decided to eat at Walkers Cafe around the corner from King’s headquarters. After eating, they began to walk back to&nbsp;the headquarters. They were spotted coming out of the restaurant by four white men who began yelling racial slurs. The men crossed the street and began to assault the three men.&nbsp;Reeb&nbsp;was hit from behind with a pipe, he fell to the pavement. The attackers fled the area.&nbsp;Reeb&nbsp;was still conscious at this point&nbsp;so&nbsp;the others helped him back to headquarters to seek help. He was then taken to a Black infirmary where the physician examined him and determined he needed to be taken to the hospital to seek treatment from a&nbsp;neurosurgeon. &nbsp;The hospital was ninety miles away, so they began&nbsp;preparations&nbsp;to transport&nbsp;Reeb&nbsp;there. They were escorted to the edge of town by the police. They were not too&nbsp;far out of town when they got a flat tire. They thought it would be&nbsp;risky for a biracial group to be seen out at night changing the tire so they headed back to&nbsp;get another vehicle. When they&nbsp;finally got&nbsp;Reeb&nbsp;to the hospital,&nbsp;he was taken into surgery where they discovered half of his skull was crushed and he had developed a blood clot. It was at this point that doctors determined that he would not recover&nbsp;from his injury. He remained on life support for two days and was pronounced dead at 7 pm on March 11th.&nbsp;&nbsp;​News of his death spread quickly across the nation, making the front page of the newspapers. Many groups nationwide staged demonstrations in memory of&nbsp;Reeb&nbsp;and in support of the Civil Rights Movement. President Lynden B. Johnson was deeply moved by the passing of James&nbsp;Reeb. On March 15th&nbsp;the President addressed congress and the nation urging the passage of the voting rights act. Congress passed the legislation and it was signed into law August of 1965. He is remembered today as a Martyr for civil rights.&nbsp;A memorial has been placed on Martin Luther King Street in his honor which is&nbsp;very fitting for such courageous acts&nbsp;on the part of Rev. James Joseph&nbsp;Reeb&nbsp;during the Civil Rights movement.

James Joseph Reeb was a white Unitarian minister who worked with less fortunate people in Boston. In 1965 he responded to the call by Martin Luther King for clergy to come to Selma, Alabama to protest the violence against civil rights marchers. James Reeb traveled to Selma for the protest march that took place on March 9th, 1965. That same day James Reeb and two other ministers where attacked by a group of white supremacist. He obtained a head injury and was pronounced dead two days later on March 11th. 

James Joseph Reeb Memorial 

The Civil Rights Movement challenged segregation, racial discrimination, police brutality, and the refusal of white political officials to permit African Americans to vote in many Southern state. During this period, supporters of the movement participated in marches and other peaceful forms of protests in order to bring attention to their issues and demonstrate solidarity with one another.On March 7, 1965, several hundred civil rights proponents met in downtown Selma, Alabama. After saying a prayer, they were led in a peaceful march through the city. Arriving at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the protestors were met by police who ordered them to disperse. When the protestors refused to leave, the police attacked them with tear gas and nightsticks, among other weapons. This day is known as "Bloody Sunday" owing to the attack on peaceful protestersMartin Luther King Jr led a second march of about 2,500 people two days following the "Bloody Sunday" march. This was an immediate protest of the violent events that had occurred just a few days prior. Meanwhile, King and local leaders planned a larger march from Selma to the Alabama capital at Montgomery. In order for this march to be successful, the leaders needed the police to permit the march, or they needed a court order barring the police from preventing the march.After petitioning the federal courts for protection, the court declared that the protesters had the right to participate in a protest march under the rights protected under the United States Constitution. On March 21, 1965 thousands of protestors began their march from Selma across the bridge. In contrast to the attack on Bloody Sunday, local police protected marchers from any potential violence. The march to Montgomery lasted four days and over 20,000 marchers arrived in Montgomery on March 25th. The leaders of the march had been successful in their goals and their voice was heard around the country. Within a few months, Congress approved and President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.The Edmund Pettus Bridge was named after a former Confederate general from Alabama. Pettus was also a leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

The site of one of the most famous events in civil rights history, Edmund Pettus Bridge was the location of the "Bloody Sunday" attack on peaceful civil rights protesters on March 7, 1965. The bridge was built in 1940 and crosses the Alabama River. There were three previous attempts to complete a civil rights march in Selma prior to the decision of police officers to block the bridge and then attack the protesters on March 7th, a day known today as "Bloody Sunday." After the nation, including many white Southerners, responded with outrage in response to photos and videos showing police officers beating marchers while they lay helpless on the ground, Alabama police decided to permit the civil rights march to proceed. Martin Luther King Jr. led a second march across the bridge on March 9,1965. With the support of a court order, a third civil rights march brought 25,000 participants to Selma to participate in marches the following month. 

Selma Alabama Civil Rights Driving Tour

National Voting Rights Museum and Institute

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