National Civil Rights Museum

ISSUE AREA: PLACE

County: Shelby County, TN

Contact:
Beverly Robertson
Executive Director
National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 521-9699

Date Published: Summer, 2002

The National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) opened in 1991 at the site of the infamous Lorraine Motel, made famous as the location of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination.

The NCRM was created to educate the public on the Civil Rights Movement and its impact on the world through exhibits and collections.
After Dr. King’s assassination, visitors no longer stayed at the Lorraine Motel and the property was foreclosed in 1982. Local residents feared this historic landmark would be destroyed due to neglect, and formed the Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation to save the Lorraine. Sufficient money was raised to keep the motel afloat, and the room occupied by Dr. King was maintained as a memorial. With the MLK Memorial Foundation continuing to raise awareness of the Lorraine’s historical significance, it was decided in 1987 to transform the motel into a civil rights center. With support from the City of Memphis, Shelby County, and the State of Tennessee, $11 million was raised to build the National Civil Rights Museum. Outside of government support, funds were raised at a concert featuring Stevie Wonder. The museum opened on September 28, 1991.

The NCRM has been a huge success since its inception. Over 1 million visitors have visited the site and average annual attendance now exceeds 150,000. Some of the highlights include a replica of the bus in which Rosa Parks refused to leave her seat. An automated driver provides audio of what the real driver said, allowing visitors to experience the racism Ms. Parks faced. Exhibits also feature the integration of the Little Rock Public Schools, the bombed-out Freedom Bus, and the integration of the University of Mississippi by James Meredith.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, admission is reduced to $1, allowing families to experience and celebrate the life of a great man who changed American history. The museum prides itself on both entertaining and educating the public. The Museum also pays tribute to individuals whose actions display the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, as it annually selects a national and international recipient of the Freedom Award. The Freedom Award honors those who have made significant accomplishments in civil rights and continue to promote human rights. Past recipients include Nelson Mandela, Sidney Poitier, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Colin Powell.

The museum is an asset to the Memphis/Shelby County region. Primarily, it educates the public on the impact and influence of the Civil Rights Movement on the human rights movement worldwide. In addition, it provides entertainment with its collections and exhibitions. Besides celebrating history, the museum encourages participation in public forums discussing human rights issues during the week of the Freedom Award presentation. The National Civil Rights Museum restored a struggling motel by transforming it into a place of learning. Not only is it a source of pride, but it also symbolizes the region overcoming its past to promote civil and human rights.

Additional Contact:
Thomas E. Jones
Public Affairs Officer/ Senior Advisor to the Mayor
Shelby County Government
(901) 545-4588

Related Resources:

National Civil Rights Museum
http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org