Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Freedom Rides Museum

    4.3 (19 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Freedom Rides Museum Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Freedom Rides Museum

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Richard R.

    As other reviews have mentioned, this is a small museum with a limited amount of displays and information. While the curator is indeed very enthusiastic and passionate, I don't think there is any significant information here that you don't find at many of the other Civil Rights Museums around town. After all, the bus segregation in Montgomery was headline news for years and the catalyst to the movements focus in this area of the south. So it is part of most of the conversations about history here in Montgomery. The largest value is physically being able to walk into the building where the riders arrived on their journey and witness the blueprints of the buildings design, which focused on segregation. You can walk the "colored" waiting room and see from the inside where the entrance has since been bricked over & mortared shut. Don't get me wrong, this place has relevance and shares a little more detail about the riders than most. But I think to stand out they should offer something the others don't, maybe a bus ride with videos and maybe even live action to reenact what the riders were feeling and ultimately experienced. The Freedom Rides were many and have a complex 6-month history, but the museum location was actually the site of a watermark moment of violence on May 20th, 1961. [ GREYHOUND STATION HISTORY ] Initially, the ride began in Washington DC by a group known as Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). The goal was to ride all the way to New Orleans but the trip became an increasingly hostile journey as it entered the deep south. South Carolina was particularly hostile. Some of the DC riders abandoned the mission and the Tennessee students stepped in not wanting it to fall apart. Even Martin Luther King Jr. warned: "You will never make it through Alabama." But they courageously continued on. --- "Anniston, AL segregationists firebombed one of the buses and a mob attempted to attack the riders as they fled the burning vehicle. When the second bus reached Birmingham, Alabama, a mob with similar intentions also assaulted the riders, who were dragged away and beaten nearly to death. The Freedom Riders were not allowed to leave the city for five days as Bull Conner, Birmingham's Public Safety Commissioner, effectively held them hostage." [source: National Register of Historic Places - NPS] MUST WATCH Janie's Story about firebombing: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/freedom-riders-young-witness/ --- The riders were coming from Birmingham after being delayed the day before because the driver refused to drive due to an angry mob surrounding the bus station. Alabama State Patrol was forced to protect the bus by the Kennedy administration, but later abandoned the bus at Montgomery city limits. At 10:23 a.m., another mob awaited the bus where the rider were beaten severely. White riders were particularly given extra violent attention by the angry mob and even reporters and photographers were attacked and their cameras destroyed. Ambulances refused to take wounded riders to the hospital and local police, while present, did not intervene and allowed the beating to go on. The nightmare didn't end in the days that followed as local and state officials made no attempts to protect the people or bring any order to an out of control growing mob. Even a Justice Department official was beaten and left unconscious lying in the street. May 20th, 1961 Freedom Riders whom risked it all included: William Barbee | 19 Paul Brooks | 22 Catherine Burks | 21 Carl Bush | 19 Charles Butler | 20 Joseph Carter | 22 Allen Carson, Jr. | 19 Lucretia Collins | 21 Rudolph Graham | 20 William Harbour | 19 * Susan Hermann | 20 Patricia Jenkins | 18 Bernard Lafayette Jr. | 20 Fredrick Leonard | 18 John Lewis | 21 William B. Mitchell Jr. | 18 Etta Simpson | 19 Ruby Doris Smith | 19 * Susan Wilbur | 18 Clarence M. Wright | 19 * Jim Zwerg | 21 * white Be sure to take time to walk the museum with the curator, who holds a vast amount of knowledge about each of the displays. I personally got more out of listening to her than I did reading all the information in the displays. Story of Chela Lightchild - https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/mlk-s-oratory-turned-a-young-woman-into-a-freedom/article_cef52c6f-e85a-5d8e-a156-49ae30da588f.html [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] Again, while the museum itself is not particularly large, it is stained with the blood of courageous people willing to give up their own safety and risked their own lives for the sake of humanity. These amazing people even wrote farewells and wills prior to boarding the bus. WHAT COURAGE!!! They did this largely and initially without support from anyone and it is for that reason this space is 5-stars. 2019/83

    Jessica S.

    The Greyhound Bus Station at 210 South Court Street in Montgomery, Alabama, was the site of a violent attack on participants in the 1961 Freedom Ride during the Civil Rights Movement. The May 1961 assaults, carried out by a mob of white protesters who confronted the civil rights activists, "shocked the nation and led the Kennedy Administration to side with civil rights protesters for the first time." The property is no longer used as a bus station, but the building was saved from demolition and its facade has been restored. The site was leased by the Alabama Historical Commission and a historical marker was located in front of the building. In 2011, a museum was opened inside the building, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The first Freedom Ride left Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1961, and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17. The black and white Freedom Riders were trying to compel the U.S. government to enforce U.S. Supreme Court decisions outlawing segregated transportation, and wanted to end the discriminatory practice of allocating seating on the buses and bus stations with a preference for whites. Organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the plan was to have mixed pairs of riders sit side by side. The first ride consisted of two buses, one from Greyhound and one from Trailways, and the plans included a final leg starting in Atlanta, Georgia, and stopping in the state of Alabama in Anniston, Birmingham, and Montgomery before ending in New Orleans. In Anniston, a mob of angry whites violently attached the Greyhound bus and set it on fire; the riders were severely beaten. The Trailways bus arrived an hour later and was boarded in Anniston by Ku Klux Klan members who beat up the Freedom Riders. It was also attacked in Birmingham, and several riders (including James Peck) were beaten in front of the press. Reports of the violence reached US Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who urged restraint on the part of Freedom Riders and sent an assistant, John Seigenthaler, to Birmingham. CORE agreed to halt the Freedom Ride in Birmingham on May 14, with the remaining riders flying to New Orleans. The riders, who had been left unescorted by the highway police as they reached Montgomery city limits, arrived at the bus station at 10:23 AM and were met by a crowd of violent white protesters, including women and children. Several were injured in the racist attack, including Robert Kennedy's assistant John Seigenthaler, who had followed the bus in his car: attempting to rescue two white female riders, he was hit over the head with a metal pipe and "lay unconscious on the ground for half an hour." Floyd Mann, a "committed segregationist, tough on law and order," stepped in to protect William Barbee, who was to remain paralyzed and died an early death as a result of his beating. Floyd fired his gun in the air, yelling, "'There'll be no killing here today.' A white attacker raised his bat for a final blow. Mann put his gun to the man's head. 'One more swing,' he said, 'and you're dead.'" On Sunday, May 21, Martin Luther King, Jr., C.K. Steele, and SCLC officers came to support the Freedom Riders. That evening, they and the riders joined the evening service in Ralph Abernathy's First Baptist Church on North Ripley Street while some 3000 angry protesters yelled outside, burning a car and threatening to burn the church. From inside the church, King telephoned Robert Kennedy, who urged the activists to "cool down," a proposal refused first by Diane Nash, and then by James Farmer (on behalf of CORE) and King. Kennedy had sent 500 U.S. Marshals, headed by United States Deputy Attorney General Byron White. Airborne troops were on standby at Fort Benning,[3] just across the Georgia state line. The Kennedy Administration's decision that it would send US troops to restore order was protested by city and state officials.[8] The marshals, with the help of Floyd Mann and his state troopers, managed to keep the mob at bay; it was finally dispersed with the help of the National Guard at midnight. The Freedom Ride again went on the road, and travelled to Jackson, Mississippi, where the students, which by now included Nashville Student Movement activists Bernard Lafayette, James Bevel, and others, were arrested as they attempted to segregate the "Black" and "White" waiting rooms in the bus terminal. As a result of the unrest and the nationwide publicity generated by the Freedom Rides, in late May Robert Kennedy was able to successfully petition the Interstate Commerce Commission to adopt stronger regulations and desegregate interstate transportation.

    The markers outside of the museum tell the story.

    THE FREEDOM RIDERS There was really no need for me to go inside of this Greyhound bus station because all I needed to know was displayed on the outside of the building. Going inside only confused me because it was very limited and it really did not add anything to expand or enhance my experience. Also, there is a more comprehensive display in Birmingham which I visited just last summer. The outside of the building told me all I needed to know. Along the front of the building, you will need to start to your left and walk along the front to understand what took place when the Freedom riders arrived in Montgomery on May 20, 1961. The riders consisted of students and activists who wanted to test the interstate segregation laws that had been ruled unlawful. Would the laws be respected here in Alabama or would segregation stand? When the riders who were non-violent and unarmed arrived at this Montgomery bus station, they were viciously attacked by Klansmen and others. The local police were no where to be found. Eventually the national guard and state police stepped in to provide provide safe passage for riders to leave the area. This incident brought great embarrassment to the president and much needed attention to issues of segregation. This was a really sad day in black history but important to remember, especially when you realize that these people left home prepared to die for this cause. The photos of those that were beaten are fairly graphic so be careful if you are taking young children to this site. It is definitely a great place to stop and reflect. This station was placed on the historic registry in 2011. What took them so long?

    See all

    Photo of Chris B.
    16
    588
    538

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sport G.
    2
    126
    19

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Richard R.
    4995
    1572
    25885

    7 years ago

    Helpful 230
    Thanks 0
    Love this 213
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bree G.
    316
    12
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Madelyn A.
    1168
    2425
    11295

    9 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shane S.
    3218
    762
    1961

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lauren N.
    227
    15
    5

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sara K.
    5
    163
    0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Freedom Rides Museum

    Review Highlights - Freedom Rides Museum

    The museum is within what is left of the Greyhound bus station the Freedom Riders stopped at in 1961.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration

    The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration

    4.8(185 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    This is the most profound museum I have ever been to and I have been telling everyone that they…read morehave to go here. I had a chance to visit this museum twice this year, the first time to experience it myself and do some recon for planning a group trip, & the second time I hosted a group of about 25 people to visit. Truly a powerful experience. The interactive pieces and number of 1st hand accounts made it impactful. A few tips: -Eat right before going in since you don't want hunger to cut your trip early. I highly recommend eating at the restaurant in the museum which is Pannie-Georgie's. It's great southern food and they have small private rms for groups that worked well for us. -Note there's not many places to sit inside. To get a little break from reading yourself and standing, go check out the films that play in the circular small theaters throughout the museum. -All the museum staff standing around are also resources for you and your group if you are struggling with the content. It's also helpful that you can go in and out and take a breather outside. There's a nice park and a coffee/donut shop kiddie-corner to the museum for a break. The first time I was here, I stayed for about 3.5 hrs and couldn't go through it all since I like to read everything. The second time I was able to take in the art museum pieces that I missed my first time. You'll most likely need to visit this museum at least twice to soak it in. This a must-see museum and I suggest going here first before the sculpture garden and memorial to have more knowledge going into those. It helped me just be and experience the other legacy sites more.

    Every American should visit The Legacy Museum. Telling the story of slavery to mass incarceration,…read moreit powerfully tells the most whole story about the Black experience in the U.S.A. Here's our experience. 1) Tickets: Traveling in a group of 22, we easily got our tickets from the staff ahead of time. One QR code worked for our entire group. After going through security that's like airport security, we were inside the museum. 2) Museum: First of all, turn off your phones as no photos of videos are allowed. In a sacred space as this, respect the request. Take your time to read everything and watch every room. If the room is small, each wall duplicates the content to help with the flow. This isn't repeated in the larger rooms. Most rooms have a theater area, which is worth popping in. EJI videos are award-winning and worth your time. One of the strengths of the museum is leading with data. They powerfully show data that moves you toward action. As you end the museum, you'll go through an art gallery. On your way out, buy books in the bookstore to learn more. 3) Experience: It's a sobering museum, but one worth your time. Budget to spend 3-4 hours to take everything in. Afterwards, don't skip the nearby Legacy Park to reflect on what you witnessed and grieve the brutal story of America.

    Photos
    The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration - SCLC West Jefferson Chapter group

    SCLC West Jefferson Chapter group

    The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration - Pictures from the Civil Rights era

    Pictures from the Civil Rights era

    The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration - Right next to the fountain

    See all

    Right next to the fountain

    Rosa Parks Library & Museum - Portrait of Rosa Parks

    Rosa Parks Library & Museum

    4.6(74 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    This is the best museum we have seen on our civil rights tour so far. Lots of movie clips…read moreintegrated with the exhibits so sitting alternates with standing and listening and watching alternates with reading. Take the Time machine ride in the children's wing first if you possibly can. And watch for references to all the women leading the movement that we often don't hear about.

    The absolute one thing I wanted to do when I found out I was going to be in the Montgomery region…read morewas to come to this museum. My heart broke when I was online looking at the surrounding areas and saw that this was (at that time) temporarily closed. Due to updating of exhibits with new technology. I was a bit down because of this because I have been obsessed with Rosa Parks since high school. I was just going to let it slide until I did a bit more researching while in the city. I went to their website and noticed that they were reopening on MLK Day...the day I was to leave to head back home. I started to hatch a plan to allow me to visit, I couldn't pass it up. With them opening up on MLK Day they were doing a special where you got half off admissions. Not that bad of a deal. There are two portions to this museum, the main exhibit and a children's portion of it. Both cost $7 and when I found out I was going to pay just $7 for both that day, I thought why not. But I will touch on this a bit later. DISCLAIMER: Don't be like me and take pictures, it is not allowed. Let me explain. When I came here I was in a rush, when I came inside I was asked if I was here for the museum or if I was here to use the restroom. They were allowing people gathering for the MLK Day parade outside use the restroom. I said that I was here for the museum. The guy working the host stand hurried me into the museum as a group just went in. Rushing me in since the start of the museum was a video presentation. With that, he did the honor system with me (yet again), told me to pay and opened the door and let me inside. With all the hurry of getting inside, I wasn't given time to read anything of the rules or be given a rundown or the rules. More on this a bit later in the review. Once you enter you are greeted by a replica of the Montgomery City Bus that Rosa Parks stood her ground on. The bus is equipped with video screens that fill in for the windows. This portion of the museum is totally immersive, as you watch the interaction taking place on the bus, hearing the overhead voice to fill in the gaps, watching the actors portraying the events, lights guiding your eyes to parts in the room to keep you in the moment (portions outside of the bus). Also, you will notice that you are on what is supposed to be a street. The street that this historic event takes place, once you figure this out you will notice you are technically standing in front of the theater, near a payphone. But you are immersed into it all that you don't realize it until the lights come up and guide you to the rest of the museum. Once out of this you then go through each and every moment that followed Ms. Parks action. Including MLK's entrance into the movement, the use of personal cars to help people get to work when boycotting the bus (and the targeting of the those given rides), The eventual end of the boycott, the continued progression of the Civil Rights Movement, and so on. All the while educating you. I wish I could have met Ms. Parks in person, this museum brought more information to light for me about her. This should be called a memorial on top of a museum and library. To touch base on the admission. The other portion of this is a children's based interaction and could be skipped by adults in you do not want to take this in. It is an interactive 'ride.' You enter the 'bus' and are driven through history. It is made to be an educational tool to teach children about segregation. The bus is meant to be a time machine that mashes up history a bit by having historical figures 'meet' and educate those on the ride. The bus does move and vibrate and there are flashing lights, it is interesting to experience, but not a must.

    Photos
    Rosa Parks Library & Museum - Inside

    Inside

    Rosa Parks Library & Museum
    Rosa Parks Library & Museum

    See all

    National Memorial for Peace and Justice

    National Memorial for Peace and Justice

    5.0(128 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    There are some places you visit, and then there are places that stay with you. The National…read moreMemorial for Peace and Justice is one of those places. Opened in 2018 by the Equal Justice Initiative, this memorial honors more than 4,400 African American men, women, and children who were victims of racial terror lynchings between 1877 and 1950. It tells a story that is painful, sobering, and absolutely essential to confront. As you enter, the experience is quiet and intentional. Steel rectangular monuments are arranged by state and county, each engraved with the names of victims and the dates they were killed. At first, the columns stand at eye level. You can look directly at the names. But as you continue walking, the ground gradually slopes downward and the columns begin to rise above you. It is impossible not to understand the symbolism. The markers are roughly human-sized. As you descend and look upward, they resemble bodies suspended overhead. That realization hit me deeply. The weight of it -- the scale of it -- settles into your chest. It is heavy. It should be. Along the walls, detailed plaques explain the circumstances behind many of the lynchings. Some victims were murdered by mobs of hundreds or even thousands. Some were killed for reasons so trivial and unjust -- accusations, perceived slights, even something as simple as having a photograph of a white woman. You quickly realize how little it took, and how terrifying daily life must have been for Black Americans living under that constant threat of violence. Near the exit, there is a waterfall installation representing the countless undocumented lynchings -- lives lost that may never be fully known. It is a quiet but powerful reminder that even this memorial cannot capture the entire scope of the tragedy. Outside, each hanging monument is duplicated and laid flat across the grounds. This allows visitors to read each name more closely. I deeply appreciated this thoughtful design choice. Every name is treated with dignity and equality. As you walk among them, you may notice multiple names from the same county on the same date -- entire acts of mob violence frozen in steel. Further along, sculptures and signage from various states and counties acknowledge the history and efforts toward reconciliation. The Equal Justice Initiative encourages each county represented to claim its monument and publicly confront its history. Many have begun to do so. Many still have not. The memorial asks visitors to be respectful and to stay off the grass. There are restrooms available on site. Everything about the space is orderly, intentional, and reverent. This is not an easy place to visit. It is not meant to be. But it is profoundly important. If you are in Montgomery, this is a must-visit. It provides critical context for understanding why the end of slavery, Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights Movement were not just historical milestones -- but moral necessities born from immense suffering. I would give this memorial 10 out of 5 stars if I could. Go. Walk slowly. Read the names. Remember.

    One of three Legacy Sites (soon to be four with Montgomery Park opening in 2026), this one is a…read moremonument honoring the victims of racial terror lynching between the 1870s and 1950s in the U.S.A. Tickets can be ordered online for a very affordable price. Once inside, walk a mile path taking the time to read every sign and see the names of victims of the racial terror lynchings. Unlike the other two Legacy Sites, you can take photos and videos. Despite this, be respectful. It's sacred ground. After you go through the main monument, the path weaves through a sculpture park as well as duplicate permanent markers honoring the victims of racial terror lynchings across the country. The ticket price is very affordable. If you're moved, consider making a donation to support the work of EJI. They maintain the spaces not because of government grants, but because of the support of the people.

    Photos
    National Memorial for Peace and Justice
    National Memorial for Peace and Justice - Arise by Branly Cadet memorializing local community leaders and descendants of victims

    Arise by Branly Cadet memorializing local community leaders and descendants of victims

    National Memorial for Peace and Justice

    See all

    Civil Rights Memorial Center

    Civil Rights Memorial Center

    4.5(35 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    Established in 1971
    Free estimates

    Parking here can be tricky. I was able to find some free street parking. There is metered street…read moreparking available as well within a reasonable walking distance. Outside you will find a waterfall running down a wall that has a quote from Martin Luther King. There is also a large circular black granite water table that has the names of 41 people killed (Martyrs) in the name of the civil rights struggle. It was designed by Maya Lin in 1989. In order to enter here you must have a must, submit to a temperature check and go through security screening. This is one of the few museum in the area that allows photos inside. The Center is very small. The first room that you come to is the The Martyr Room and features 74 people, that are known as "The Forgotten", and the 41 "Civil Rights Martyrs" that are listed on the memorial outside. Sadly, it is an extensive list and has Emmet Till, Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, and other less notable names. The main section of the Center is the Apathy is Not an Option: Orientation Theater. It seats about 75 or so and is very nice. The movie that they play here is on a schedule and the timer is located in the previous room. It tells you when the next showing is. The movie is amazing and is a must see. It is well put together. I really loved it and am glad that I waited for it. The rest of the Center has pictures of people on the walls with phrases and/or personal stories on them It is titled The March Continues: Today's Activist. The Center's last area is the Wall of Justice: A Space of Reflection, a video wall with names falling down. You can put your name on the wall, by agreeing to a pledge. It does not stay there, so if you are going to get a picture of it then you better do it fast. You end you tour in the small gift shop that sells key chains, t-shirt, and pencils/pens, and pictures. It does not take long to make it through the center. I spent about 45 minutes here and that included watching the movie. There is not much to the Center, but is is still worth a visit if you are in the area and have time.

    I wouldn't call this a museum. Memorial center, as named, is appropriate…read more It is worthwhile as the staff are super nice and helpful, the film is informative, and it goes over personal accounts of those involved in the civil rights struggle. But that's about all that's here. This isn't in-depth; it took me less than an hour to complete my visit--but it's a good adjunct to the EJI museum and memorial. And near the freedom rides museum. Each museum is only five dollars, so you can see the EJI museum and memorial, the civil rights memorial center, and the freedom rides museum for 15 total dollars. Why not?

    Photos
    Civil Rights Memorial Center
    Civil Rights Memorial Center
    Civil Rights Memorial Center

    See all

    Old Alabama Town

    Old Alabama Town

    4.0(9 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    So much history is simply demolished. Some cities, like Montgomery, have sites such as these that…read morereassemble these otherwise forgotten bits of bygone days. It's fun to ramble through these old buildings that are all quite well-preserved. If you have children, multiply the time you spend here by two or three or four.

    January 12, 2013, Tony and I did a self guided walking tour of Montgomery, Al. We had a great day…read more The weather was warm and lovely. We happened upon this 6 block historical section of old homes in Montgomery, Al. There are new homes here. Here is a brief history of the buildings: Tour the Authentic 19th Century Village Today There are no facades or newly constructed buildings here! Our 19th century village features completely authentic 19th and early 20th century homes and buildings that have been saved from demolition, carefully restored, and reopened to the public as a history museum. At Old Alabama Town, you will learn how early Americans of all backgrounds lived and worked in Central Alabama. History lives at Old Alabama Town, where six blocks of authentically restored 19th and early 20th century structures beckon you to step back in time to the days of one-room... Self-Guided Tours We offer self-guided tours Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last ticket is sold at 3 p.m., though visitors are free to explore until 4 p.m. Upon purchasing admission at the Old Alabama Town Reception Center, guests will receive a property map to guide them on their walking tour of our Living and Working Blocks. Visitors are free to explore at their own pace and leave and return throughout the day. Costumed interpreters are available on each block to answer questions. A fully guided tour of the Ordeman House is also included in general admission. Tours of the Ordeman House are available Monday-Friday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Ordeman tour times are subject to change without notice. Call 1-888-240-1850 on the day of your visit to confirm times.

    Photos
    Old Alabama Town
    Old Alabama Town
    Old Alabama Town - Outside of building

    See all

    Outside of building

    Freedom Monument Park - Slave quarters, outside

    Freedom Monument Park

    4.8(8 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    I had visited the museum and memorial when they first opened and was blown away then. Now, the team…read morehas really built up a learning and honoring enterprise that everyone should visit. The sculpture garden and the boat ride to it are beautifully organized and provide space for reflection and learning at your own pace. Relying on the shuttles is your best bet to not have to back track. Make sure you know the shuttle schedule and routes ahead of time, though, so you don't get too delayed.

    Traveling the world, I've been to a sculpture park or two, but none as powerful as the Freedom…read moreMonument Park. Located along the Alabama River on land that was stolen from indigenous peoples and later used to enslave people, the park is sacred. Here's our experience. 1) Tickets: Our group got tickets to all three Legacy Sites online. All three tickets cost around $5 per person, an affordable place to make the sites accessible. Shuttles are offered between the three. We took the boat from the boat ramp to Freedom Monument Park, which takes around 15 minutes with a narrative playing about Montgomery as you sail through the water. 2) Experience: Turn off your phone (you can only take photos of the very first sculpture, National Monument to Freedom, and the reflection waterfall) and take your time. Plan to spend at least an hour if not two to read every plaque and gaze at the powerful art, large and small, along the path. To start, the path walks through the story of Indigenous peoples who were victim to oppression. It then transitions into the Black story in the U.S.A. with art, old slave quarters, and more. Some you can walk inside. Others you see from the distance. At the end, there's a giant monument listing the surnames of over 100,000 people included in the first census after emancipation. On either side of the monument are bowls of flowers to lay in the little stream in front of the grand monument. Afterwards, go inside the small center to use the restrooms, get water, or dive deeper into what you just witnessed.

    Photos
    Freedom Monument Park
    Freedom Monument Park
    Freedom Monument Park

    See all

    Freedom Rides Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...