Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Civil Rights Movement trail between Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, US
The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail is a 54-mile route running from Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma to the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, connecting major historical sites and several visitor centers. The path follows the original route that thousands of demonstrators walked about 60 years ago and displays the monuments and memorials that stand along this important journey.
The trail marks the famous 1965 march when activists walked from Selma to Montgomery demanding voting rights for Black Americans, encountering resistance at Edmund Pettus Bridge. These events ultimately led to new federal laws, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The trail connects important sites from the African American civil rights movement, where visitors today find monuments, memorials, and museums telling the story of the voting rights struggle. These locations serve as reminders of the people who fought for equality here.
Visitors can obtain maps and information at the Selma Interpretive Center, located at the foot of Edmund Pettus Bridge, where daily resources are available. The trail is well-marked, and visitors should wear sturdy shoes and bring water and sun protection depending on the season and weather.
The trail incorporates multiple sites where demonstrators camped during their five-day journey, including land supported by sympathetic local African American residents. These stopping points tell stories of local solidarity and reveal how ordinary people helped sustain the movement from place to place.
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