Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum facts for kids
| Location | 460 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Savannah, Georgia, United States |
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The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum is a special place in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It's named after a very important leader, Ralph Mark Gilbert. This museum helps us learn about the history of African American people in Savannah. It shows how they lived, from the time of slavery all the way to today. A big part of the museum focuses on the civil rights movement, which was a time when people worked hard for equal rights for everyone.
Contents
The Museum's Story
Who Was Ralph Mark Gilbert?
Ralph Mark Gilbert was a Baptist pastor and a strong leader for civil rights. He was the pastor at the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia. He served there from 1939 to 1956. This church is very old, started in the 1770s, making it one of the oldest black churches in the country.
Many people see Gilbert as the "father of the civil rights movement in Savannah." He led the Savannah chapter of the NAACP from 1942 to 1950. The NAACP is a group that works for equal rights for all people. Gilbert also helped start the Georgia Conference of the NAACP.
Fighting for Equal Rights
Ralph Mark Gilbert worked hard to change unfair rules. He spoke out against the "white primary" system. This system stopped African Americans from voting in important elections. He also organized voter registration drives. These drives helped many African Americans in Savannah sign up to vote.
How the Museum Started
After Gilbert, W. W. Law became the president of the Savannah NAACP chapter in 1950. It was mostly because of Law's efforts that the civil rights museum was created.
In 1993, Chatham County helped fund the museum. They used a special sales tax to collect money for it. A nonprofit organization, led by W. W. Law, then took charge of the museum.
The museum is located in an old bank building. This building was built in 1914. It also used to be the main office for the NAACP chapter in Savannah.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum officially opened in August 1996. The opening was a big four-day celebration. There was a special party called a "jubilee gala." There was also a meeting at First African Baptist Church. At this meeting, people acted out a historical meeting from the civil rights movement. A march to the museum was also part of the celebration.
Inside the museum, you can find many interesting exhibits. There is a replica of a lunch counter, like those used in lunch counter protests. These protests were important during the civil rights movement. You can also see photos of African-American businesses from Savannah. Another exhibit is about Laurel Grove South Cemetery. This is a historic cemetery for African Americans in the city.
