Southern Civil Rights Journey
Atlanta, Montgomery, and Selma represent the trinity of Civil Rights events in the South. Take your group to experience all three this year and discover the tears, victories, and memories of the Civil Rights Era in America.
Begin planning your 2025 journey today with customized dates and pricing to meet your goals.
What’s Included
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Meals as shown on the itinerary |
*Transfers to airport |
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Entrance and Program Fees |
First Class Hotels |
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Guided Tours |
Tips for Hotel Staff & Hotel Porters |
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Live Audio Headsets (Groups of 8 or more) |
The Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Atlanta, Georgia
Arrive in Atlanta, Georgia, this afternoon and head to your hotel to check-in. You will spend overnight in the heart of midtown Atlanta.
Day 2 – Atlanta, Georgia
This morning, visit the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park. This expansive area is home to many tributes to the late Civil Rights leader. Walk through the “I Have a Dream” World Peace Rose Garden on the way to Ebenezer Baptist Church to learn more about its most famous member, Martin Luther King Jr., who was pastor at this church from 1960 – 1968. Meet with staff from the church to learn more about the congregation’s history and what current social justice ministries have continued into the 21st century. (Alternate: Head to the King Center and meet with members of their staff to hear about how they are continuing King Jr’s legacy through social justice.)
After lunch, your next stop is the National Center for Civil & Human Rights. The National Center believes in justice and dignity for all. Immerse yourself in the exhibits around Civil and Human Rights movements all over the world. Don’t forget to see the artifacts from Martin Luther King Jr. while you’re here.
The rest of the day is yours when you’re finished at the National Center! Dinner is on your own tonight as well. The National Center is within walking distance of your hotel and in the heart of Midtown, with lots of things to do and places to eat.
Day 3 – Montgomery, Alabama
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head to Sweet Home Alabama! Your first stop is the National Legacy Memorial of Peace and Justice. This outdoor memorial is dedicated to the over 4,400 Black people killed in racial terror lynchings in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Each of the 800 Corten steel monuments represents a county in the United States where one of these tragic events occurred. Enjoy lunch in Montgomery. (If the weather is bad, the tickets also work for the National Legacy Museum of Peace and Justice. The National Legacy Museum uses technology in a unique way to tell the story of slavery in America and its legacy today.)
Visit the Freedom Rides Museum and learn about the 21 young people who challenged segregation in public transportation in 1961. After this, walk to the Rosa Parks bus stop, commemorating Rosa Parks and her famous day in history. (Unfortunately, the museum dedicated to her is presently closed for renovation).
Check into your hotel for overnight in Montgomery.
Day 4 – Selma, Alabama
Drive the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. This 54-mile stretch follows the route of the Civil Rights protestors. This historic trail covers three different protest marches throughout the month of March 1965. Just before you get to Selma, visit the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute to learn about the marches from Selma to Montgomery. From there, walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and enter Selma. Enjoy lunch and free time in downtown Selma before heading to Birmingham.
End your day in Birmingham, where you will overnight. If weather permits, head up to Vulcan Park for a great view of the city and the sunset.
Day 5 – Birmingham, Alabama
This morning, tour the 16th Street Baptist Church. This church was a centerpiece of the African American community in Birmingham. On September 15, 1963, a bomb exploded in the back stairwell of the church, killing four young girls and injuring 20 more inside the church. Walk across the street and stroll through Kelly Ingram Park, where various civil rights monuments reside, telling the story of Birmingham’s civil rights movement. Right next to the park is the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, where you can see the actual jail cell door that MLK Jr sat behind and a replica of the Freedom Riders bus.
Enjoy free time in Birmingham. Dinner is on your own tonight. Overnight in Birmingham.
Day 6 – Return Home
Return to Atlanta to fly home.
*In leu of flights, bus transportation can be arranged from and to your group's location. Please contact EO for more details. Transfers to and from the destination airport are included if air is purchased through EOT or if you provide EOT with your flight information at least one month prior to your departure. Those not providing this information may have to make their own transfer arrangements to return to the airport.