Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail

The march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama marked a turning point in the civil rights movement. The 54-mile march to the capital was a nonviolent demonstration to bring attention to voting rights for people of color. Five months after the march, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.

Start your tour of this historic trail in Selma at the visitor's center. The center is at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It gives you an introduction as to what to expect along the historic trail. The bridge was where the marchers left Selma. On Sunday, March 7, 1965, Alabama state troopers savagely beat and bloodied many of the 500 marchers on the bridge.

Organizers of the march, including Dr. Martin Luther King, expected the violent response. Two weeks later, on March 21, another march occurred. This time, police weren't allowed to interfere due to a court's ruling. Over the course of five days, some of them in the chilly rain, thousands of marchers walked along State Highway 80 to the capital.

Today, you can stand on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Imagine the chaos of Bloody Sunday. On one side of the bridge stood 500 marchers. On the other side were dozens of state troopers. The marchers continued to walk even though they feared for their lives.

Then, follow the historic trail signs on Highway 80 to Montgomery. Interpretive signs and centers along the way describe what happened during the march. Regular events and programs also help bring the significance of the Selma march to light.

Campsites in the area put you close to the path of history. Both Selma and Montgomery themselves have other sites to see if you're a history buff.