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    Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

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    1,092 Reviews
    #2 of 71 things to do in Birmingham
    Museums, History Museums
    Closed Now: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203-1911
    Open today: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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    Review Highlights
    “Where to take out-of-town visitors”

    Of the various places in Birmingham to take out-of-town visitors, none is more likely to be a very... read more

    Reviewed 4 days ago
    RRR86
    ,
    Birmingham, Alabama
    “Great Display of the Struggle for Black Americans in the US”

    I came by here with some time before meeting up with a friend, but I wish I had set aside more time... read more

    Reviewed 1 week ago
    royalvagabond
    ,
    Washington DC, District of Columbia
    Read all 1,092 reviews
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    Traveler Overview
    4.51,092 reviews
    • Excellent80%
    • Very good16%
    • Average2%
    • Poor1%
    • Terrible1%
    Travelers talk about
    “street baptist church”(105 reviews)
    “civil rights”(161 reviews)
    “across the street”(131 reviews)
    About
    This historic museum traces the journey of the civil rights advocates of the 1950s and 60s, who changed the course of American history. The struggle for equality for Black Americans is chronicled here, from the Jim Crow laws in the 1800s to the...more
    Closed Now
    Hours Today: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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    Contact
    520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203-1911
    Website
    +1 205-328-9696
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    Reviews (1,092)
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    All reviews street baptist church civil rights across the street eye opening freedom riders kelly ingram park african americans american history jim crow martin luther king short film two hours excellent museum learn something united states self guided on display
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    1 - 10 of 1,064 reviews
    Reviewed 4 days ago
    Where to take out-of-town visitors

    Of the various places in Birmingham to take out-of-town visitors, none is more likely to be a very positive experience than the Civil Rights Institute. The displays are uniformly interesting and many are interactive. My wife and I have done this many times and we...More

    Date of experience: November 2018
    Thank RRR86
    Reviewed 1 week ago
    Great Display of the Struggle for Black Americans in the US

    I came by here with some time before meeting up with a friend, but I wish I had set aside more time to walk around. I saw most of the main exhibits but missed a few extra and visiting the church across the street, a...More

    Date of experience: October 2018
    Thank royalvagabond
    Reviewed 1 week ago
    Birmingham and Bombingham Stood Side by Side

    I have visited the 16th Street Baptist Church and the park where the statues of the girls who were killed there are however this was my first time to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The trip was well worth the visit! The history is in...More

    Date of experience: October 2018
    Thank SongbirdSpirtWalker
    Reviewed 3 weeks ago
    Put this first on your Birmingham list

    The conference I attended offered an optional tour at the program’s conclusion. I only regret not having more time. It was educational, eye-opening, and a reflection on a bleak but heroic historic time.

    Date of experience: November 2018
    Thank LisaB595
    Reviewed 4 weeks ago
    An educational experience to be had by all

    Do not miss this museum. It was at the top of my list, but not my fellow traveler's. Once we had completed it, she was so glad she had seen it. There was so much to learn, and it was so touching to think it...More

    Date of experience: October 2018
    1  Thank travrept
    Reviewed 4 weeks ago
    Fascinating display

    It will take some time to go through all the exhibits, but it's well worth the price of admission. They have so much history on display.

    Date of experience: November 2018
    Thank bonnie j
    Reviewed November 9, 2018 via mobile
    Free on Sunday

    Free on Sunday however they ask for donation up front before you get your ticket. The institute itself was nicely laid out. Not as comprehensive and wowing as the Civil Rights Museum in Atlanta, so this Institute is a bit underwhelming if you’ve visited the...More

    Date of experience: November 2018
    Thank Amit S
    Reviewed November 9, 2018
    Impressive exhibit of Civil Rights era

    A walk through a period of history that engages,informs and touches you deeply. I brought out of towns visitors who became totally immersed in the various exhibits and interactive displays. We spent 2 hours at the museum and wish we could have stayed longer.

    Date of experience: November 2018
    1  Thank DorothyZ2013
    Reviewed November 8, 2018 via mobile
    Must See Experience

    Perhaps the most informative and well done museum on this delicate subject you could want. It tells the story of desegregation from the civil war on. If you are a history buff of this subject or lived through the time this played out, basically the...More

    Date of experience: November 2018
    Thank gk347N
    Reviewed November 7, 2018
    A look back thru our history!

    I have been to the Civil Rights Institute many times. I learn something new with each visit because of something I missed. If you live in Birmingham or visiting soon make plans to visit our history.

    Date of experience: June 2018
    Thank anorwar
    View more reviews
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    Questions & Answers
    Ask a question
    See all 13 questions
    Go54811521980
    October 30, 2018|
    AnswerShow all 8 answers
    Response from imothers | Reviewed this property |
    We did not use a tour guide. We found the museum very easy to follow on our own. Really, you want to take in this place at your own pace. What might strike you as important, may not be the same as someone else. Also, the... More
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    Votes
    Gossie55
    October 14, 2018|
    Answer
    Response from romadaro | Reviewed this property |
    Atlanta is a 2 hour drive from Birmingham.
    0
    Votes
    shavet914
    July 20, 2018|
    AnswerShow all 5 answers
    Response from Diane S | Reviewed this property |
    It was 10 or 15 dollars per adult. Well worth the money.
    1
    Vote
    12345
    Travel Forum Posts
    MA_Vacationer
    Boston, Massachusetts
    Road trip - Birmingham Visit (6 Replies)
    Hi, My daughter and I will be visiting Birmingham during our 'Southern Road Trip'. We will be driving down from Nashville on a Monday at the end of June. We 're planning to visit the Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park, Vulcan Park, Barber Vintage Motorsports and if we have time the Botanical gardens. We will be driving to Memphis next. I'm struggling trying to figure out where to stay. Since we have a car - I'd like a hotel with free parking but would also like to be close to the...More
    May 30, 2016|
    Response frombhlkin|
    Yes 78/22 is the best way to Memphis, but there's a little tricky detour spot north of Birmingham that you can get details on in another post closer to your trip time. As for a hotel, depends on budget, but I'd look at the mountain brook and Homewood areas. Nice, safe, "good" part of town with plenty of interesting restaurant and shopping options for your downtime. There is a Hampton, embassy suites, aloft, and courtyard all with free parking. If you want to splurge there's a lovely new...More
    GMan5431
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    What to do with a free day in Birmingham (4 Replies)
    I am arriving in Birmingham on Memorial Day. Going to a baseball game Tuesday night and the Rickwood Classic on Wednesday during the day. That means i have Tuesday during the day off to see the city. We only have part of one day but here are some thing i found that looked pretty cool. Any comments, info or advice on any of them would be much appreciated. Civil Rights Institute Museum of Art Alabama Theatre Peanut Depot Sloss Furnaces Red Mountain Park and the Vulcan Statue 16th...More
    February 13, 2009|
    Response fromSmileDoc7|
    The art museum is great, and I hear the civil rights museum is great as well. The Vulcan is also neat to see. There is also Summit for shopping (outside). Good luck and have fun!
    movedtotravel
    Columbus, Indiana
    Advice on refining must-see and must-eat during one-day trip (5 Replies)
    My family of four, including kids 6 and 8, is heading to Birmingham this weekend to visit McWane Science Center on a Scout overnight (pray for me), and we would like to turn it into a mini-exploration of the city. Since McWane is the reason we're going, the bulk of our time in town will be spent there, but I'd like to hit a couple other key places. We have a reciprocal with the zoo and the kids love animals, so that's a high consideration. Even if we're only there an hour, it's free so...More
    January 15, 2014|
    Response fromdbh2|
    Great research!! The zoo would be a good choice and is not far from downtown. Ed's Pet World is in Homewood and not too far either - actually pretty close to the zoo. Dreamland would be a good option for lunch. Other BBQ options would be Full Moon (my personal favorite), Saw's and Moe's Original. If you like seafood, the Fish Market has great seafood with a Greek flair. Irondale Cafe may be a little out of the way unless you want to go to Leeds to the Barber Motorsports Park and Museum, also....More
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