Dallas County: Civil Rights History, Culture, and Nature

The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail runs through Dallas County along U.S. Highway 80 and commemorates the events, people, and route of the 1965 Voting Rights March. It is also designated a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road. This gives a stay in Dallas County a clear historical focus: the march is presented not only as an event but also through the route associated with it. Other sites highlight specific aspects of civil rights history, architecture, or the landscape.

March History in Selma

Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Selma was the starting point for the voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery. Visitors can cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on foot and follow the trail. For planning purposes, you can distinguish between two ways to experience it: crossing the bridge on foot or following the historic trail.

Another way to explore Selma on foot is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Street Walking Tour. Stops include Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, First Baptist Church, and George Washington Carver Homes; directional signs help with navigation. Route details may change, so check for current information before your visit.

Museums and Historic Sites

The Civil Rights Room at the Old Depot Museum houses the Good Samaritan Hospital’s hospital log. It records the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson and the treatment of African Americans after Bloody Sunday. The Old Depot Museum is an interpretive museum; its tour covers the period from the Civil War through the civil rights movement. The museum thus offers both an overview of this historical period and a specific document showing its consequences.

Sturdivant Hall, also known as the Watts-Parkman-Gillman House, is a historic Greek Revival mansion and house museum in Selma. Tabernacle Baptist Church was the site of one of the first mass meetings of civil rights activists from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Selma. Cahawba was Alabama’s capital from 1819 to 1826. Old Cahawba is a significant archaeological site and a gateway to natural wonders. Kenan’s Mill’s historic features include a 19th-century brick charcoal kiln.

Trails, Water, and Landscape

Paul M. Grist State Park has about 23 miles of well-marked trails suitable for horseback riders, hikers, and cyclists. The lake, covering about 100 acres, offers other options: fishing, renting jon boats, and launching private boats. The approximate trail length and lake activities give you two different points of reference for planning your time in the park.

Along the Alabama River, Riverfront Park features a concrete path, a wooden bridge, and two overlooks. These are specific ways to experience the park along the river without losing sight of the region’s historical themes.

Visitor Information

According to NPS information as of April 11, 2025, the Selma Interpretive Center was closed until 2028 due to extensive construction; at the same time, a temporary location for the Selma Welcome Center had opened. Check the current status of both facilities before your trip. Rangers regularly give groups short orientation talks upon request. If you plan to attend one, ask in advance, as group policies may change.

Discover more destinations: Selma, Tyler, Marengo County, Marion County, Talladega, Covington County, Pike, Shelby County

For the broader travel overview: Alabama.