Built around the former Lorraine Motel, where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, the National Civil Rights Museum immediately emits its cultural and historical significance to all who visit. The museum tells the story of African-American's struggle for independence and equality, dating from the arrival of the first Africans to the British colonies in 1619 to King's assassination.
A walk through the museum offers a sense of the nation's tumultuous legacy regarding the civil rights of African-Americans. Exhibits chronicle some of the most important episodes of the Civil Rights Movement, including the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, the Little Rock Nine, Montgomery Bus Boycotts, and the famous Sit-Ins of the 1960s. Whether or not you are familiar with the history of the civil rights movement, the museum is a powerful testament to the sacrifices that ordinary Americans made in the name of freedom and equality for all.
The museum is located in the southern part of Memphis, and is a very short drive from most locations.
