Freedom Rides Museum

The Freedom Rides Museum is a civil rights museum in Montgomery located inside a former Greyhound bus station. The building contains exhibits with photographs, objects, and firsthand accounts from the 1961 movement, all displayed in the spaces where the events occurred.

The building became the focal point in 1961 when young activists arrived to challenge racial segregation in interstate bus travel and encountered violent opposition. This moment became a turning point in the broader struggle against racial discrimination in the American South.

The space preserves the physical reality of how racial separation was built into everyday public spaces, with original features showing where division was enforced. Visitors stand in areas that were once designated by race and can see how ordinary architectural choices were used to exclude people.

The museum is located on South Court Street in downtown Montgomery and offers guided tours in the morning hours. Visitors should check ahead about special programs or events, as these can affect regular visiting hours and provide deeper context about the building and its history.

The waiting room has been restored to show the original signage and fixtures from the segregation era, allowing visitors to see the exact space where the arrival occurred. Standing in this room gives a direct connection to that specific moment in history without any interpretation between the visitor and the event.