Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument facts for kids
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Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The A.G. Gaston Motel is included in the monument.
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | Birmingham, Alabama, United States |
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| Area | 18.25 acres (7.39 ha) |
| Website | Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument |
| Part of | Birmingham Civil Rights District (ID06000940) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 19, 2006 |
| Designated NMON | January 12, 2017 |
The Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument is a special place in Birmingham, Alabama. It was created in 2017 to remember and honor the brave people who worked for civil rights in the United States. This monument helps us learn about the important events that happened here. It is managed by the National Park Service.
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How This Special Place Was Created
On January 12, 2017, President Barack Obama signed a special order. This order made part of the Birmingham Civil Rights District into a U.S. National Monument. On the same day, other important places were also made into national monuments. These included the Freedom Riders National Monument in Anniston. Another was the Reconstruction Era National Monument in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Important Places to See
Birmingham was a very important city during the Civil Rights Movement. Many key events happened here. The monument helps protect and remember these places.
Key Events in Birmingham
- The Birmingham campaign was a series of protests. People marched peacefully to demand equal rights.
- Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail here. He wrote it while he was in jail for protesting.
- The Children's Crusade was a powerful protest. Young students marched for freedom. Images from this time showed students facing water hoses and police dogs.
- The A.G. Gaston Motel was a main meeting place for civil rights leaders. It is now part of the National Monument.
- The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing was a very sad event. It showed the challenges people faced.
Places Within the Monument
Most of the monument is inside the larger Birmingham Civil Rights District. This district was set up in 1992. It covers about 36 acres.
Some of the historic sites you can find within the monument include:
- The A.G. Gaston Motel: A historic motel where civil rights leaders met.
- The 16th Street Baptist Church: A church that was central to the movement.
- Kelly Ingram Park: A park where many important protests took place.
- St. Paul United Methodist Church: Another historic church in the area.
- Bethel Baptist Church: Located in the Collegeville neighborhood of Birmingham.
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