Timeline
10:00
Begin at the 16th Street Baptist Church. The tours run from 10AM to 4PM on weekdays and weekends, so arriving at 10AM lets you go inside during the quietest part of the morning. This site holds the memory of the 1963 bombing that helped galvanize the civil rights movement.
10:45
Walk six minutes to Green Acres. It is a take-out spot for breaded soul foods. The fried chicken, catfish, and okra are fresh. This is a fun slice of local life and a perfect lunch stop after your morning visit.
11:30
Black Lives Matter Street Mural
Take a short 16-minute walk southeast to the Black Lives Matter Street Mural. Located on 1st Avenue South in front of Railroad Park, this mural was initiated by Black Lives Matter Birmingham and artist Shawn Fitzwater. It serves as a powerful contemporary reflection on the history you just witnessed.
12:00
Step into Railroad Park, a 19-acre green space and recreation center designed by architect Tom Leader. It opened in the fall of 2010 and offers a place to rest and reflect after your walk through Birmingham's history.
Local tip
The 16th Street Baptist Church tours start at 10AM. If you arrive right at opening, you will likely have a more intimate experience before the crowds build up.
Check before you go
- The 16th Street Baptist Church tours run Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM. Last tour starts at 3PM.
- Green Acres is open Mo-We 09:00-21:45 and Th-Sa 09:00-22:45.
Worth knowing
- Green Acres is open at 10:45 only on Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Birmingham (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).