Visiting The Civil Rights Museum
A powerful and emotional experience takes place when visiting the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. It takes visitors through the history of the Civil Rights movement in the United States. Located at the site of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, the museum offers a comprehensive look at the struggles and triumphs of the movement.
Entering the Civil Rights Museum
As soon as you enter the museum, you are transported back in time to the era of segregation and discrimination. The exhibits begin with the history of slavery and the Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation in the South. Visitors are shown the harsh realities of discrimination. This includes the KKK, lynching’s, and the violence that was used to maintain the status quo.
Moving Through The Museum
Through the museum, you begin to see the emergence of the Civil Rights movement and the brave individuals who fought for equality. There are exhibits dedicated to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Riders, and the March on Washington, among others. You can hear the speeches of Dr. King and other leaders of the movement and see the impact of their work on American society.
One of the most moving exhibits in the museum is the room where Dr. King stayed at the Lorraine Motel. The room has been preserved exactly as it was on the day of his assassination. Visitors can see the bed where he slept, the table where he ate his last meal, and the phone that he used to make his final calls.
The Fight Continues
As you continue through the museum, you see the progress that has been made since the Civil Rights movement. There are exhibits on the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and the desegregation of schools. You also see the ongoing struggle for equality, with exhibits on the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for LGBTQ rights.
Five Little Known Facts About Visiting The Civil Rights Museum
1. The museum is located at the Lorraine Motel. It was the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968. The motel was converted into the museum in 1991, and visitors can still see the balcony where King was shot.
2. It contains a replica of the Montgomery, Alabama bus where Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat, sparking the Montgomery bus boycott. The replica allows visitors to sit in the same seat where Parks sat on that historic day.
3. One of the museum’s lesser-known exhibits is about the role of women in the civil rights movement, including figures such as Fannie Lou Hamer and Diane Nash.
4. The museum has a Freedom Award ceremony every year. It honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of civil and human rights. Past honorees include Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, and Desmond Tutu.
5. It’s home to the Legacy Building, which contains the museum’s archives and collections. The archives include over 1 million documents, photographs, and artifacts related to the civil rights movement, making it one of the largest collections of its kind in the world.
Conclusion
Visiting the Civil Rights Museum is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices that were made by so many to ensure that all people are treated with dignity and respect. It is a call to action for visitors to continue the work of those who came before us and to fight for a more just and equitable society. If you are ever in Memphis, TN, the Civil Rights Museum is a must-see destination.
Getting There
In the heart of Memphis, TN there are many ways to get to the Civil Rights Museum, just click view larger map and get real time directions.
The most common airport used for visiting the museum is Memphis International Airport (MEM).
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