On Tuesday, the 63rd anniversary of the church bombing that killed four little girls, the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham opened a new Education & Visitor Center.
The opening was held in conjunction with the church’s annual memorial service commemorating the 1963 bombing that killed Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley.
The Education & Visitor Center, adjacent to the church sanctuary, provides space for visitors to engage with the history of the historic church and the Birmingham Civil Rights District. The facility will include immersive experiences, oral history projects, artist residencies and more.
“The Education & Visitor Center is designed to demonstrate the power of faith and how that faith provided the fuel for those who came before us to be courageous,” said Dr. Terrence Brown, executive director of the Education & Visitor Center.
The center also includes The River Wall, an installation inspired by the stained-glass window given to the church by the people of Wales following the bombing.
“16th Street Baptist Church is an important part of Alabama’s history and a site that draws visitors from across the country and around the world,” Alabama Tourism Director Glenda Allred said. “The new Education & Visitor Center expands the experience available to those visitors and provides another opportunity to learn about the people and events that shaped the Civil Rights Movement. Investments in historic sites such as this also strengthen heritage tourism in Birmingham and encourage visitors to spend more time exploring the city and the state.”
