Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail

The Birmingham Civil Rights Trail is a planned interpretive trail linking historic sites in Birmingham which were important to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.

The trail was proposed by Birmingham mayor Larry Langford in August 2008. In May 2009 the Birmingham City Council approved $1 million from the sale of a city-owned warehouse to the BJCC to be applied toward creating interpretive signage and marketing materials over three years.

A public presentation of plans for the trail was held on May 12 at Kelly Ingram Park with a video presentation and a performance by the Carver High School choir and Temple Light Mass Choir. In the future the trail could be utilized by tour buses and for special events. Kiosks and multi-media presentations as well as landscaping and infrastructure improvements would mark future phases of work.

Proposed trail sites

• Bethel Baptist Church
• Birmingham Jail
• Civil Rights District
  • 4th Avenue Historic District
  • 16th Street Baptist Church
  • A. G. Gaston Motel
  • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
  • Kelly Ingram Park

References

• Bryant, Joseph D. (May 5, 2009) "Committee approves Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford's civil rights trail funding plan." Birmingham News