The city of Birmingham is home to many historical events that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement. Learning more about these events is just a brief walk or drive from campus.
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is about a ten minute drive from campus and offers educational resources on the topic of the Civil Rights Movement and Birmingham history. While the institute is temporarily closed due to the pandemic, bcri.org has online resources that include the Oral History Project, archives and more.
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is located across the street from the 16th Street Baptist Church, where Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley and Denise McNair were killed in the 1963 bombing. While in-person church services have been postponed temporarily, there are memorials located outside the church in honor of Collins, Robertson, Wesley and McNair.
The Birmingham Civil Rights trail is a self-guided tour of events that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement.The Civil Rights Trail website, https://civilrightstrail.com/destination/birmingham/, describes the locations as sites of violence and of healing. Kelly Ingram Park is where the tour begins, and guides walkers with signs like the one below.
Located on UAB’s campus, the Spencer Honors House was once home to the Second Presbyterian Church. It was at this location that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached from the pulpit of the church. While there are Honors College events that take place at this location, those interested in viewing the outside of the former church can find it between the Business and Engineering Complex and the Alys Stephens Center.
