Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument Opens Temporary Visitor Center During Renovations

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Beginning August 19, The National Park Service will open a temporary visitor center for the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument while renovations take place at the historic A.G. Gaston Motel. The temporary visitor center will be located in The Commons meeting space at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, located at 520 16th Street North in Birmingham. The visitor center will be open Wednesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On May 10, the National Park Service closed the visitor center in the A.G. Gaston Motel for renovation. However, the coffee shop and exhibit space in the 1968 wing of the A.G. Gaston Motel, operated by the City of Birmingham, remain open during construction. The renovations will improve visitor access, build exhibit space and recreate a motel room and the "War Room" to their 1963 appearance.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a museum located in Birmingham near the A.G. Gaston Motel, Kelly Ingram Park and 16th Street Baptist Church. The Institute promotes comprehensive understanding of the significance of the development of civil rights in Birmingham. Visit the BCRI website for information on the museum, operating hours and entrance fees.

The A.G. Gaston Motel, built in 1954, was constructed by A.G. Gaston to accommodate black travelers in the segregated South. Known as the headquarters for "Project C," the Gaston Motel provided a safe haven for Civil Rights leaders during a pivotal era of the segregated South. The Gaston Motel expanded in 1968 to include a supper club and other amenities.

Check the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument online for updates on the construction process.

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About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America's most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.