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

4.5(41)Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 41 reviews1 h 30 minFree cancellationBy The Birmingham Historic Touring Company
A G Gaston Motel

About this activity

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.

What's included

  • ✓All Fees and Taxes

Meeting and pickup

  • 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)

Good to know

  • 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

Cancellation policy

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

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