A Visit to the National Civil Rights Museum

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On April 4, 1968, a shot rang out at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, slaying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the inspiring Civil Rights leader. The location is now the fitting home to the National Civil Rights Museum.

Of course the entire museum cannot fit within the walls of a small roadside motel, and the museum expands from the motel to showcase the struggle for Civil Rights for America’s Black population. Without a doubt, this is one of the most well done and poignant museums I have been to. The initial room focuses on of slavery, and the forced migration of Black people to America. Eventually visitors are ushered into a small theatre showcasing the history of slavery through Jim Crow, ushering in the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century.

Exterior of the museum, with text reading "National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel"

A large turquoise, yellow, red, and white sign reads "Lorraine Motel" with a small two story midcentury motel in the background.

Overall view of the Lorraine Motel, a two story midcentury motel with turquoise doors and large windows.

Displays showcase artifacts from both gut-wrenching and inspiring moments, as well as landmark legal cases, and more. Through many interactive exhibits, audio and video displays, as well as a plethora of artifacts, the story of the Civil Rights Movement unfolds. Woolworth’s were a battle ground for the Civil Rights Movement with sit-ins, today one of the last remaining lunch counters, this one from Durham, North Carolina, is on display.

A portion of the Woolworth's lunch counter from Durham, North Carolina, with statues of people sitting at the counter.

A pair of vintage Black and white baby dolls, the same models as the ones from the "Doll Test" done by Kenneth and Mamie Clark. In the background, a photo of a Black boy holding a white baby doll.

A large screen emulates a blackboard, with a map of the United States showcasing the differences in funding Black schools versus white schools.

Statues of people walking, emulating the boycott of the buses, in the background a 1950s bus.

Inside the bus a statue of Rosa Parks.

A truly somber moment was seeing glass from the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, where four girls, Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley were murdered by a Klan member when he bombed the church on September 15, 1963.

Four pieces of broken glass, below a caption reading "Shards of glass from the church's shattered windows, recovered from the explosion"

Jail doors with a photo of Dr. King in the background.

A vintage button reading "We Shall Overcome"

A large photograph of a protest, with statues in front carrying signs, various signs read "We demand decent housing now" "We march together Catholic, Jews, Protestants for dignity and brotherhood of all men under god now" and "We march for jobs for all a decent pay now"

A small recreation of the Edmunt Pettus Bridge in Selma with statues of two officers outfitted in riot gear.

Beret, sunglasses, and jacket that belonged to Cyril Innis of Corona's Black Panther Party.

Pennant and button from the March on Washington.

The museums concludes with a visit to Room 306, where Dr. King spent his final moments. While a sign literally said “Have your cameras ready” I just couldn’t bring myself to take photos. A timeline with witness accounts gives visitors a full vision of what transpired on that fateful April day.

A red and white floral wreath hangs off the second floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel outside of room 306.

A large turquoise, yellow, red, and white sign reads "Lorraine Motel" on the marquee below it reads "I have a dream MLK"

While a museum that focuses on the past, there are many lessons to be gleaned from National Civil Rights Museum that pertain to struggles we continue to face today with racism, bigotry, and anti-LGBTQIA+ on the rise.

If you find yourself in Memphis, I highly encourage you to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, located at 450 Mulberry Street in Memphis. Learn more and buy tickets on their website.

What’s Nearby?

The Arcade Restaurant

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