Greyhound Bus Station - Montgomery, Alabama
Posted by: 
xptwo
N 32° 22.483 W 086° 18.541
16S E 565000 N 3582181
On May 20, 1961, the Freedom Riders bus pulled into the Greyhound Bus Station in Montgomery, Alabama, and were met by an angry mob. Fifty years later, the old bus station became the site of a museum dedicated to the Civil Rights era Freedom Rides.
Waymark Code: WMD95C
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 12/07/2011
Views: 3
Today the old Montgomery Greyhound Bus Terminal houses the Freedom Rides Museum, but on May 20, 1961 it was the scene of an early civil rights mob attack. Fifty years later, on the anniversary of the confrontation, the Freedom Rides Museum opened its doors with its first art exhibit "Road to Equality."
The historical marker in front of the museum tells the story. The text reads:
"On May 20, 1961, a group of black and white SNCC members led by John Lewis left Birmingham for Montgomery on a Greyhound bus. They were determined to continue the "Freedom Ride" from Washington, D.C. to New Orleans that had met with violence in Birmingham. Their purpose was to test a court case, "Boynton vs. Virginia," declaring segregation in bus terminals unconstitutional. Upon arriving in Montgomery, their police escort disappeared, and an angry mob of over 200 Klan supporters attacked and injured them at the Greyhound terminal. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy was so enraged that he sent in 450 U. S. Marshals and thus became active in the movement."
Information on the museum may be be found at their web page (
visit link)
The museum is located at 210 South Court Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104, near the intersection with Adams Avenue. It is open Fridays and Saturdays only, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm.