The Sacred Ground of 1963: Birmingham’s Civil Rights Struggle Discount Tickets

4.5
★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 40 reviews |

Get your discount tickets for the The Sacred Ground of 1963: Birmingham’s Civil Rights Struggle, save up to 9% !

Overview

This isn’t a tour—it’s lived history. Walk the streets of the most segregated city in America as they were experienced by those who lived through its darkest and most defining hour. Your guide is Wilhelmina Thomas—storyteller, needlewoman, and “craftivist”—who grew up in Birmingham’s Riley, Wenonah, and Hillman communities. She attended the very schools shaped by this city’s history: Wenonah Elementary, Riley Elementary, and Jones Valley High. Her earliest memories include the church, the civic league, and the Civil Rights Movement itself. This tour reveals the truth beneath the façade—the daily struggles, the acts of defiance, and the sacred spaces where ordinary people did extraordinary things. Hear personal accounts of life under Jim Crow Visit Kelly Ingram Park, the 16th Street Baptist Church, and other landmarks Reflect at the sites of protest, pain, and perseverance Includes a free “Witness Packet” digital download for direct bookings They stood. We walk.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

285 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35206 - on the SouthEast corner of 20th Street North and 3rd Avenue North...This is DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM - not Irondale (please check your GPS)

Language Offered

English-GUIDE

Itinerary

1. Birmingham
Your tour begins at the corner of 3rd ave and 20th street north and proceeds down 20th street toward 4th Ave North covering the Black contributions to the founding of Birmingham
Duration: 15 mins
2. 4th Avenue North
This leg of the tour covers the 1926 Red Line Zoning laws, the Palm Leaf Hotel, and the Chitlin' Circut.
3. Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park
A park and statues dedicated to our local founder of the Temptations
Duration: 10 mins
4. 4th Avenue Business District
The remnants of our once dynamic "city within a city" with possible stop in Nelson Brothers and Green Acres.
5. Civil Rights District
This is the center of the Civil Rights National Historic Monument
6. Carver Theater
One of the best Black theaters - now the Jazz Hall of Fame...also you will see the Prince Hall "Colored" Masonic Lodge
Duration: 10 mins
7. Kelly Ingram Park
Kelly Ingram Park is an improved public park that contains emotionally powerful sculptures depicting the civil rights struggle in Birmingham. The park served as an assembly spot for activities of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other groups in the movement.
Duration: 15 mins
8. 16th Street Baptist Church
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, stands as a poignant symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, marked by its tragic history as the site of a racially motivated bombing in 1963, which resulted in the loss of four young girls. This historic church remains a powerful testament to the struggle for civil rights and a focal point in the ongoing journey toward racial equality in the United States.
Duration: 15 mins
9. A.G. Gaston Motel
The A.G. Gaston Motel, built by prominent African American businessman and entrepreneur, Arthur George Gaston (1892-1996), provided first-class lodging and dining in Birmingham, Alabama, to African American travelers. Designed by Birmingham-based architect Stanley B. Echols, the motel opened in 1954
Duration: 10 mins
10. Lyric Theatre
Our only standing theater that allowed mixed (though still segregated) audiences
Duration: 10 mins

Inclusion

All Fees and Taxes

Cancellation Policy

Check mark icon Refundable tickets

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • 100% refund if cancelled 1+ days before the start date
  • 0% refund if cancelled less than 1 day(s) before the start date

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Supplied by The Birmingham Historic Touring Company

Reviews

4.5

★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 40 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

5 stars
31
4 stars
5
3 stars
0
2 stars
1
1 stars
3

Explore other options