We we touring Selma on a Saturday morning and after walking the Pettus Bridge, we looked over at…read morethe museum and saw that they were open. It is located at the bottom of the bridge. Normally, it is only opened by reservation. Luckily for us, some group had it reserved for that morning and the museum historian, Sam Walker, graciously let us piggy back on the group. Mr. Walker was amazing and showed a lot pride in the museum. He was very friendly and helpful and pointed out a few key highlights of the museum to us before we really got into it. The museum has a decent sized parking lot and a small gift shop that was not open while I was there. The museum is a lot larger than it looks. It just kept going and going. It provides not only a background on voting rights history, it has a display of photos from Bloody Sunday, a President Obama Gallery, a jail cell exhibit, a church exhibit, a lot of information about the Foot Soldiers, a Ku Klux Klan display, White only and Black drinking fountains, early Black elected officials, MLK and Ghandi comparison, and bogus voting test. Mr Walker came out from the front desk and told us the story of the Bloody Sunday pictures on the wall. They were never seen before then and were donated by a police photographer after he heard of the opening of the museum. The photographer was living in Montgomery at the time and hooked them up with who to request the pictures from. He then showed us a photo and pointed out the window and told us that certain picture occurred outside of the window "right there". That is when it dawned on me that the horrible events of that fateful day occurred right out front of the museum. Outside you will find a bus, which I think they use to help people register and vote. There are also some nice murals on garage doors out there that I really liked and tie into the city, and voting rights. This museum does not have the huge funding that others get. They still do a wonderful job presenting the information. The museum is well organized and has lots of displays and artifacts. It took me about 45 minutes to go through the museum. I know it is difficult to get into the museum. I have been to Selma a few times and was unable to make it happen prior to this trip. And I just lucked out on this go around. It is however, worth the effort and I highly recommend checking this museum out.

Very disappointed with attempt to visit museum on a Thursday. Website clearly states that the…read moremuseum should've been open from 10-4, but we arrived to find a sign taped to the door saying "Sorry the Museum will open by appointments only until further notice." Since we were only passing through Selma for the day, trying to make an appointment at THAT point was pointless; not sure why the info on the website wasn't updated so that we could've planned appropriately.

A great history museum for Selma and the surrounding Dallas County. A great many interesting…read moreartifacts with much provided information. I can honestly say that we were blessed by our visit. Low cost admission. The museum's curator is an extremely knowledgeable and very entertaining woman! Highly recommended.

During our visit to see the Edmond Pettus Bridge we stopped by this museum. It was a small…read morecollection but still worth experiencing. It's not an elaborate museum but growing. The woman who worked there actually walked along side us describing the displays. It was hot inside so bring water and a hand fan. My favorite was the KKK exhibit.

It was closed when I stopped by today, looked to be permanent. Also, the phone is disconnected…read more Not sure when this might have happened.

A little off the beaten path, but a worthy stop on our vacation journey…read more Upon crossing the bridge and parking, we were greeted by a kind gentleman who had a table set up (selling shirts, books, etc). He introduced himself (I forget his name) and told the story of Bloody Sunday and his family ties to that event. That kicked into a meaningful conversation, which I am thankful for. We then walked the bridge, which was a heavy moment for us (as midwesterners who are mostly sheltered from this sort of history). Upon returning to our car, we struck up some more conversation, and got to meet "Mr. Smith". I didn't understand much of what he said, but I could feel the history in this man. He had a been a saxophone player, and had been around quite some time. He was a genuine spirit, and I am glad to have met him. We left some money on the table, and went on our way.

We visited and crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL on Jan 9, 2026 as part of Road…read moreScholar's "The Civil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham" program. The experience would be perfect if it wasn't raining that day. But we made the best of it. First, we gathered at Songs of Selma for a group photo. Then we took the walkway next to it to cross the bridge. I went across the road to the walkway on the opposite side to better capture the group as they were crossing. I'd have gotten more footage if I wasn't also holding an umbrella over my head at the same time. That wasn't fun. The crossing ended at the Civil Rights Memorial Park, south of the Alabama River. In all, the crossing took 6 minutes. Footage of the crossing is in the video "Day 6: Crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge" on my YouTube channel, in playlist "2026-1: The Civil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham". Also on my playlist is the video "Selma Bridge Experience 01.09.2026", posted by our tour guide of the same crossing. If opportunity presents itself in the future, I'd like to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge again... when it isn't raining.

Most places/museums in Selma are closed on normal days, mostly due to COVID. So, I was surprised…read morethat this place was open on a Sunday afternoon. They guy working there was so helpful and friendly. He allowed me to go back to the small museum area in the back that was open and then provided me with maps and information about the events surrounding the bridge. The museum area is small (only a small section of the first floor is opened, the other two floors are currently closed due to COVID) but it is still powerful, educational, informative and has pictures/exhibits from that Bloody Sunday and Turnaround Tuesday. The guy working there also provided with a map and pamphlets so I could do a self guided tour and directed my to the Brown Chapel AME Church, where the marchers started. The place is easy to get to and is part of the US Park Service. It is located right before you cross the bridge and has free parking right out front. They also have a small gift shop in the front, where the proceeds help support the Center. In the museum is a power voting display that is definitely worth a few photos. So, if you are touring Selma, this is a must stop. It is FREE and I recommend going here first to get your itinerary laid out. This place is simply awesome. A diamond in the rough.

We arrived in Selma on good Friday so many places were closed. Luckily this superb Center was not…read more The entire building is clean, modern and educational. There are immaculate bathrooms on every floor, safe stairs and an elevator. The film on the third floor is the perfect start, it moved me to tears. In addition, the chairs are so comfortable. There are superb photographs and quotes everywhere. You can see the Edmund Pettus Bridge from the windows and will want to continue your tour there. This is a must see!

We stopped by the Civil Rights Memorial Park on Jan 9, 2026 as part of Road Scholar's "The Civil…read moreRights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham" program. Located south of the Alabama River, and dedicated (mostly) to the Selma marches veterans, this park marks the ending point of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It is available for visit 24/7, and admission is free. After crossing the bridge, we waited at the monument area for every group member to be accounted for. Located by the main road (US-80 BUS), this area is rather small. The memorialized individuals are much fewer than the thousands that participated in the marches. No information was given as to when this park was first opened. (My guess is sometime in 2021, going by the date of the first review.) Nonetheless, we had some minutes to appreciate the plaques, sculptures and murals, as well as hear a brief statement by a local guide regarding some of the individuals. Then it was time to get on our tour bus and be on our way to the next destination. If more time was given, I would have explore further within the park to find out if there was more than just the monuments. Based on what I had seen, 3 stars will suffice. Definitely worth stopping when visiting Selma.

Beautiful spot where they honor those who should be honored!…read more It's right after you cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Soooo much history. It's like stepping back in time! Recommend. Admission $3.00…read more Vaughan-Smitherman Museum (Selma, Alabama) Built in 1847 by Selma's Masonic Lodge #27 as a school for orphans and children of Masons. It has had a long history of service to the City of Selma. Throughout the years it has functioned as a school, a Confederate Hospital after the Battle of Selma, a Freedman's Bureau Hospital (making it Selma's first African American Hospital), the Dallas County Courthouse, a Military School, the Vaughan Memorial Hospital, and finally a museum depicting Selma's history from it's founding until about 1960.

What is there to say about the city of Selma. This is a city that was instrumental in the civil…read morerights movement of the 60s. It is home to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and we all know what happened on that Bridge on Sunday, March 7, 1965. This city is packed with a lot of history from that era and some of the cities attractions include, the Selma Interpretive Center, The Brown Chapel AME Church, the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, and of course the Edmund Pettus Bridge. There has been I petition to rename the Bridge after the late US Representative John Lewis, who was present on bridge on Bloody Sunday. Sadly, a lot of the city is closed and/or abandoned and it is starting to look a little run down. It does not have a lot of hotels to stay, so it is better scheduled as a day visit. I drove down from Birmingham for the day to explore the city. I would check to see the availability and hours of places before you go, because a few places that I wanted to see were closed when I was there. From a historical and importance in American History standpoint, this city gets six or seven stars, but it is starting to fall behind and is severely neglected, which is very sad given its importance. I hope someone invests and the city and focuses on preserving it storied and fruitful history.

This mural was commissioned by the National Voting Rights Museum and 21st Century Leadership Group…read more It is the collaborative work of Courtney Snelling, Ellyn Jackson, Lovineeha Gooch, Naijal Abdul. The group painted the mural, that is located at southern end of the Civil Rights landmark Edmund Pettus Bridge, in 1999 as part of the Liberation Summer Project. It is on the side of a souvenir shop that never seems to open and overlooks Civil Rights Memorial Park. There is adequate free parking available to park, get out and take a closer look. The mural depicts key figures with connections to Bloody Sunday including Jonathan Daniels, Viola Gregg Liuzzo., Rev. James Reeb, and Jimmie Lee Jackson. You will find MLK in the center of the mural with the Pettus Bridge in the background. "National Voting Rights Museum" is painted on the mural's left and the words "Civil Rights Memorial Mural" is on the right side. A sign by the mural details the significance of each figure on it and reads as follows: "The lives depicted in the mural are: Jonathan Daniels (1939-1965); killed on August 20, 1965 after being released from jail for participating in a demonstration in Fort Deposit on August 14; Viola Gregg Liuzzo (1925-1965); shot to death in her car on on the last night of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March; Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968); assassinated on April 4, 1968, the day after supporting striking sanitation workers in Memphis; Rev. James Reeb (1927-1965); died on March 11, 1965 in Selma, after being attacked by a group of white supremacists and; Jimmie Lee Jackson (1938-1965); a Viet Nam war veteran who was shot twice in the abdomen by an Alabama state trooper on February 18, 1965 in Marion, Alabama and succumbed to his wounds eight days later." I love the mural's meaning, significance and what it represents. It is however in bad shape and could use a refresh. Also, the art work is not the best. Some of the figures are barely distinguishable about who they are intended to be. The mural is starting to dull and fade. It has lost its luster. All in all, A nice mural that memorializes some key figures in the civil rights movement. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, such as The National Voting Rights Museum, The Pettus Bridge or Interpretive Center. You could also make this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.