lowndes county interpretive center

We visited this center May 29th. After an introduction video you can visit the different displays that tell you about the Selma-Montgomery march. It gives you a good overview before you visit Selma and see for your self the different places.

Located on historic hwy 80 between Selma and Montgomery. I can't tell you how informative, and important this site is. The video is exceptional. Reminds me of what is happening now with Hispanics in Alabama. Some things change way too slowly. However, everyone that lives in this area should see the film.

This interpretive center, about mid-way on the Selma-Montgomery trail, is brilliant. The movie is emotional, educational, and captivating. Learning about the march is wonderful and I learned more here than I did at other museums. Also I had no idea about these tent cities that had to spring up to house blacks who were forced off their land (generally after registering to vote) by their ticked-off white landowners. Really something else!After the film is a museum that you could spend a while in if you wanted to read/see everything. Wonderful photos, displays, exhibits, etc. Engaging, powerful, unforgettable. Again, the NPS has surpassed all expectations.

Operated by the National Park Service, this museum is probably some 20 miles east of Selma on U.S. 80 near White Hall. We spent two solid hours here without hesitation. The introductory movie is outstanding. You then are walked through the history of the voting rights movement in Alabama. The methods of exclusion and "hoops" to jump through to vote prior to the 1960's are well interpreted with visual and audio displays. This is a museum for readers, there are many words inscribed on the displays. Young children will not be interested in this, but those interested in history, voting rights, and the 1960's struggles leading to the Voting Rights Act will be fascinated. I would visit it again just to see what I missed. The parking lot is huge and can easily accomodate RV's and busses. If you are RV'ing, the nearby Prairie Creek COE campground northeast of Benton is an outstanding campground with a great price.

I stopped here after leaving Selma on my way to Montgomery for what I thought was going to be a quick look. After 2 hours I had to tear myself away! This is an excellent, very interesting presentation of the Civil Rights movement and well worth your time.