The Sacred Ground of 1963: Birmingham's Civil Rights Struggle
Gunstand99
This isn’t a tour—it’s lived history. Walk the streets of the most segregated city in America as they were experienced by those who lived through its darkest and most defining hour. Your guide is Wilhelmina Thomas—storyteller, needlewoman, and “craftivist”—who grew up in Birmingham’s Riley, Wenonah, and Hillman communities. She attended the very schools shaped by this city’s history: Wenonah Elementary, Riley Elementary, and Jones Valley High. Her earliest memories include the church, the civic league, and the Civil Rights Movement itself. This tour reveals the truth beneath the façade—the daily struggles, the acts of defiance, and the sacred spaces where ordinary people did extraordinary things. Hear personal accounts of life under Jim Crow Visit Kelly Ingram Park, the 16th Street Baptist Church, and other landmarks Reflect at the sites of protest, pain, and perseverance Includes a free “Witness Packet” digital download for direct bookings They stood. We walk.
Departure Point
- 285 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35206 - on the SouthEast corner of 20th Street North and 3rd Avenue North...This is DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM - not Irondale (please check your GPS)
Return Details
- 285 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35206 - on the SouthEast corner of 20th Street North and 3rd Avenue North...This is DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM - not Irondale (please check your GPS)
Duration
1 hour - 1 hour and 30 minutes
Languages Available
- Human tour guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Your tour begins at the corner of 3rd ave and 20th street north and proceeds down 20th street toward 4th Ave North covering the Black contributions to the founding of Birmingham
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: 4th Avenue North
4th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL
This leg of the tour covers the 1926 Red Line Zoning laws, the Palm Leaf Hotel, and the Chitlin' Circut.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park
1727 4th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
A park and statues dedicated to our local founder of the Temptations
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 4th Avenue Business District
1721 4th Ave N, Birmingham, Alabama
The remnants of our once dynamic "city within a city" with possible stop in Nelson Brothers and Green Acres.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Civil Rights District
, , Birmingham, Alabama
This is the center of the Civil Rights National Historic Monument
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Kelly Ingram Park
5th Ave N at 16th St, , Birmingham, Alabama
One of the best Black theaters - now the Jazz Hall of Fame...also you will see the Prince Hall "Colored" Masonic Lodge
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 16th Street Baptist Church
16th St & 6th Ave, , Birmingham, Alabama
Kelly Ingram Park is an improved public park that contains emotionally powerful sculptures depicting the civil rights struggle in Birmingham. The park served as an assembly spot for activities of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other groups in the movement.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Carver Theater
1631 4th Ave N, , Birmingham, Alabama
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, stands as a poignant symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, marked by its tragic history as the site of a racially motivated bombing in 1963, which resulted in the loss of four young girls. This historic church remains a powerful testament to the struggle for civil rights and a focal point in the ongoing journey toward racial equality in the United States.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Lyric Theatre
1800 3rd Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
The A.G. Gaston Motel, built by prominent African American businessman and entrepreneur, Arthur George Gaston (1892-1996), provided first-class lodging and dining in Birmingham, Alabama, to African American travelers. Designed by Birmingham-based architect Stanley B. Echols, the motel opened in 1954
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: A.G. Gaston Motel
1510 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
Our only standing theater that allowed mixed (though still segregated) audiences
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- All Fees and Taxes
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the The Birmingham Historic Touring Company in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
This isn’t a tour—it’s lived history. Walk the streets of the most segregated city in America as they were experienced by those who lived through its darkest and most defining hour. Your guide is Wilhelmina Thomas—storyteller, needlewoman, and “craftivist”—who grew up in Birmingham’s Riley, Wenonah, and Hillman communities. She attended the very schools shaped by this city’s history: Wenonah Elementary, Riley Elementary, and Jones Valley High. Her earliest memories include the church, the civic league, and the Civil Rights Movement itself. This tour reveals the truth beneath the façade—the daily struggles, the acts of defiance, and the sacred spaces where ordinary people did extraordinary things. Hear personal accounts of life under Jim Crow Visit Kelly Ingram Park, the 16th Street Baptist Church, and other landmarks Reflect at the sites of protest, pain, and perseverance Includes a free “Witness Packet” digital download for direct bookings They stood. We walk.
Departure Point
- 285 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35206 - on the SouthEast corner of 20th Street North and 3rd Avenue North...This is DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM - not Irondale (please check your GPS)
Return Details
- 285 20th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35206 - on the SouthEast corner of 20th Street North and 3rd Avenue North...This is DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM - not Irondale (please check your GPS)
Duration
1 hour - 1 hour and 30 minutes
Languages Available
- Human tour guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Your tour begins at the corner of 3rd ave and 20th street north and proceeds down 20th street toward 4th Ave North covering the Black contributions to the founding of Birmingham
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: 4th Avenue North
4th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL
This leg of the tour covers the 1926 Red Line Zoning laws, the Palm Leaf Hotel, and the Chitlin' Circut.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park
1727 4th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
A park and statues dedicated to our local founder of the Temptations
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 4th Avenue Business District
1721 4th Ave N, Birmingham, Alabama
The remnants of our once dynamic "city within a city" with possible stop in Nelson Brothers and Green Acres.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Civil Rights District
, , Birmingham, Alabama
This is the center of the Civil Rights National Historic Monument
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Kelly Ingram Park
5th Ave N at 16th St, , Birmingham, Alabama
One of the best Black theaters - now the Jazz Hall of Fame...also you will see the Prince Hall "Colored" Masonic Lodge
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 16th Street Baptist Church
16th St & 6th Ave, , Birmingham, Alabama
Kelly Ingram Park is an improved public park that contains emotionally powerful sculptures depicting the civil rights struggle in Birmingham. The park served as an assembly spot for activities of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other groups in the movement.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Carver Theater
1631 4th Ave N, , Birmingham, Alabama
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, stands as a poignant symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, marked by its tragic history as the site of a racially motivated bombing in 1963, which resulted in the loss of four young girls. This historic church remains a powerful testament to the struggle for civil rights and a focal point in the ongoing journey toward racial equality in the United States.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Lyric Theatre
1800 3rd Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
The A.G. Gaston Motel, built by prominent African American businessman and entrepreneur, Arthur George Gaston (1892-1996), provided first-class lodging and dining in Birmingham, Alabama, to African American travelers. Designed by Birmingham-based architect Stanley B. Echols, the motel opened in 1954
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: A.G. Gaston Motel
1510 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
Our only standing theater that allowed mixed (though still segregated) audiences
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- All Fees and Taxes
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the The Birmingham Historic Touring Company in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Need To Know Info
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings