Mount Zion AME Zion Church (Montgomery, Alabama) facts for kids
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Mt. Zion AME Zion Church
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Mt. Zion AME Zion Church in 2009.
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| Location | 467 Holt St., Montgomery, Alabama |
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| Built | 1899 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001066 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 04, 2002 |
The Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is a very old and important church in Montgomery, Alabama. It is also known as the Mount Zion AME Zion Church Memorial Annex. This building, located at 467 Holt Street, was first built in 1899. It was updated and made larger in 1921.
Mount Zion AME Zion Church: A Historic Place
The Mount Zion AME Zion Church is famous for its role in the Civil Rights Movement. This was a time when people worked to end unfair treatment and gain equal rights for all. The church became a key meeting place for many important events.
A Place for Change: Civil Rights History
In 1955, a very important group called the Montgomery Improvement Association was started inside this church. This group helped organize the Montgomery bus boycott. During the boycott, African Americans refused to ride city buses to protest unfair rules. This protest lasted for over a year and was a big step for civil rights.
Later, in 1965, the church played another important role. During the Selma to Montgomery marches, people walked many miles to protest for voting rights. The marchers rested at the Mount Zion AME Zion Church on their way to the Capitol building. Because of its history, the church is now part of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.
The church congregation moved to a new location in 1990. On November 4, 2002, the building was officially added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a very important historical site.
Art and Legacy
The outside walls of the church building have beautiful paintings called murals. These murals show important figures and events from the Civil Rights Movement. You can see pictures of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and scenes from the Selma to Montgomery marches. These artworks help tell the story of the church's amazing past.
