National Civil Rights Museum

November 2, 2023

450 Mulberry St, Memphis, TN 38103

“The National Civil Rights Museum is a complex of museums and historic buildings in Memphis, Tennessee; its exhibits trace the history of the civil rights movement in the United States from the 17th century to the present. - Wikipedia

For people around my age the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. is one an event that is etched in our minds. The picture of him standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel just before being shot is iconic. Hence this was a site I wanted to visit. The hotel façade and room 306 are still present, however, the rest of the hotel has been turned into a museum examining the Civil Rights movement from the early days of slavery up until the day Dr. King was shot. Displays include school integration, Jim Crow laws, the Montgomery bus boycott, the Freedom Riders, and several other significant events. The exhibits are well done using a good mix of media, and while the displays are bright and colorful, the mood is very somber. I saw the suggested time for museum visits was 1.5 hours, I spent 3 hours and I wasn’t the only one.

This museum is a must see for everyone.

The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel.

The fatal bullet was fired from this small window.

The gray brick in sidewalk shows the path the bullet took.

Exhibit of how slaves were transported to the United States.

Display showing the Pullman Porters Certificate of Affiliation when they formed a union.

Dolls used in researching the effect of segregated schools on black children. The information was used in Brown v Board of Education.

Propaganda used in opposition to segregated schools. Unfortunately, this type of propaganda is still effective today.

This is 1958...see any similarities to today?

King's call to conscience in his Letter from Birmingham Jail.

The reason Dr. King was in Memphis was the Sanitation Workers Strike.

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