Selma: Civil Rights History and Historic Sites

Selma brings together sites connected to civil rights history, museums, and historic buildings. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between the different highlights: you can walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, drive the historic trail, visit exhibitions, or plan your trip around an annual commemorative event.

Edmund Pettus Bridge and Historic Trail

Visitors can walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It is also part of the historic route of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, which you can drive from Selma to Montgomery. Walking across the bridge focuses on a single site; driving follows the named route between the two cities. If you’re deciding which option better suits your stay, this is a useful distinction: one focuses on the bridge, while the other focuses on driving the trail.

Exhibition at the Foot of the Bridge

The Selma Interpretive Center is the visitor center for the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail and is located at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It features an exhibition providing historical context and a bookstore. The center complements the outdoor routes with a place for exhibits and visitor information. If you’re focusing your stay on the route or the bridge, you can consider these different offerings separately: the walkable bridge, the drive along the trail, and the exhibition in the visitor center.

Sites of Civil Rights History

Brown Chapel AME Church hosted the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during the first three months of 1965. A virtual audio tour of Historic Brown Chapel AME Church covers actual events that took place there during the civil rights and voting rights movement of 1965. The church’s historic role and the virtual tour are two distinct points of interest: one relates to a specific period and organization, while the other covers events addressed by the tour.

The Old Depot Museum houses the Civil Rights Room, which places the events of Bloody Sunday in their local historical context. The museum is located in the former L&N Railroad Depot, giving your visit its own historic setting. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As opening hours can change, check them before your visit.

Architecture and the History of a Home

Sturdivant Hall is a museum housed in a home built in 1856 in the Greek Revival style. Tours offer insight into the history of the home and the families who lived there. This gives Sturdivant Hall a different focus from the Civil Rights Room at the Old Depot Museum: here, a historic home and its residents are at the center, while the Civil Rights Room provides local context for Bloody Sunday. If you’re interested in architecture and the history of a home, this distinction offers a specific point of reference to help you choose.

Commemorations in March and a Site on the Alabama River

The Bridge Crossing Jubilee takes place in Selma every year during the first week of March and commemorates Bloody Sunday. During its week of remembrance, the program includes activities, speeches, and musical performances. If your trip is connected to the Jubilee, check the specific event dates for that year’s edition before planning your stay.

A twelve-acre park on the Alabama River offers another perspective. Its features include a concrete path, a wooden bridge, and two river overlooks. This makes it different from the museums and the bridge: it combines a path and built features with views of the water.

Timing can also shape your plans: the Jubilee is tied to the first week of March, while the Old Depot Museum is open Monday through Friday. Decide whether an event date or a museum visit is more important to your trip, and check the relevant dates and opening hours in advance.

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