LEGACY SITES
A POWERFUL JOURNEY THROUGH AMERICAN HISTORY
Montgomery, Alabama, once stood as the center of the domestic slave trade in the state, holding the largest population of enslaved Black individuals. Approximately two centuries later, the same Montgomery streets would witness the courage, resilience, and determination of those who fought for civil rights, making it an essential hub in the battle for equality. Roughly 50 years later, Montgomery would once more inherit a legacy, becoming the site of the most emphatic museum and monument confronting the painful history of racial terror and lynching in the United States.
The Legacy Sites include four distinctly individual and interconnected spaces that seamlessly offer a unified experience. Legacy Sites are operated by the Equal Justice Initiative.
The Legacy Museum offers an engaging journey through America's tumultuous history of racial injustice. Visitors are encouraged to confront our nation's history and immerse themselves in over four centuries of American history through interactive experiences from the Transatlantic Slave Trade to the infliction of over-incarceration.
The National Memorial stands as a solemn sanctuary dedicated to honoring truth and fostering contemplation by illuminating the harrowing realities of racial terrorism and its enduring consequences. This outdoor monument serves as a poignant testament, recounting the stories of nearly 5,000 Black individuals who perished between 1877 and 1950. Each name is on the steel sculptures that represent the county where these tragic deaths occurred across America.
Near the banks of the Alabama River where countless enslaved individuals embarked on their arduous journey in America, the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park stands tall paying homage as a tribute. Original artifacts belonging to enslaved Black individuals create a tangible connection to their stories, offering visitors an immersive and interactive experience to honor their extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of adversity.
Montgomery Square
Montgomery Square is the newest Legacy Site dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of the Montgomery Decade that Changed the World (1955–1965), a period when local activism helped spark a global movement for civil rights and human dignity.
Located on Montgomery Street beside the Elevation Convening Center and Hotel, the site sits near the historic route where thousands of marchers completed the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. Through immersive storytelling, Montgomery Square highlights the people and events that shaped the Civil Rights Movement and helped transform American democracy.
Visitors can explore installations featuring art, sculpture, photography, and newly uncovered research that deepen the understanding of Montgomery’s impact on the fight for justice.
Inside Heroes Hall, powerful films share first-person narratives from individuals who played critical roles in the movement, including Claudette Colvin, Rosa Parks, E.D. Nixon, Jo Ann Robinson, Fred D. Gray, John Lewis, Jo Ann Bland, Sheyann Webb Christburg, Amelia Boynton Robinson, and Lynda Blackmon Lowery. Historic speeches from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are also featured, providing deeper context to the movement that reshaped the nation.
Montgomery Square also introduces new research highlighting the courage of many community members whose contributions during the Civil Rights era are less widely known, offering visitors a deeper understanding of Montgomery’s role in advancing human rights.
VISIT THE
LEGACY SITES
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- Check the Legacy Sites website for the most up to date hours.
- Preplan your visit: Tickets can be purchased at each site or online.
- Plan to spend 3-5 hours at the museum.1-2 hours for the memorial and 1-2 hours for the monument.
- Timed entry has a one-hour admission window. The last entry is at 5:00 pm.
- Tickets allow Legacy Museum re-admission the same-day
- Your ticket includes admission to the Memorial and Monument on any date.
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