The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail traces the history of the 1965 Voting Rights March: it commemorates the events, the people, and the route of the march. In Dallas County, it follows the historic march routes along U.S. Highway 80. This places not just a single site at the center, but also the path along which this history unfolded.

A Historic Route and Its Sites

The trail is designated a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road. In Selma, Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church marks the starting point of the Voting Rights marches to Montgomery. The Edmund Pettus Bridge is also one of the places visitors can cross on foot before following the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. The connection between the route and its sites gives your visit a historical framework without requiring you to visit the individual places in a set order.

For another view of the city, there is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Street Walking Tour. Its listed stops include Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, First Baptist Church, and George Washington Carver Homes; signs supplement the tour. Check the latest route details before your visit, as route information can change. Tabernacle Baptist Church offers another perspective on civil rights history: one of the first mass meetings of Southern Christian Leadership Conference civil rights activists in Selma was held there.

Sites, Collections, and Different Eras

A tour of the Old Depot Museum spans the period from the Civil War to the civil rights movement. The museum’s Civil Rights Room preserves the hospital logbook from Good Samaritan Hospital. It records the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson and the treatment of African Americans after Bloody Sunday. The logbook makes the history tangible through a specific document.

Sturdivant Hall, also known as the Watts-Parkman-Gillman House, is a historic Greek Revival mansion and house museum in Selma. Cahawba offers a different point of reference in time: from 1819 to 1826, it was Alabama’s capital. Old Cahawba is an important archaeological site and also a gateway to natural wonders. Kenan’s Mill includes a 19th-century masonry charcoal kiln. Together, these places span the state’s early history through the events of the civil rights movement.

Trails and Water

For those who want to focus on nature and activities, Paul M. Grist State Park has about 23 miles of well-marked trails suitable for horseback riders, hikers, and cyclists. The approximate total length and range of uses can help you choose what suits you best. The 100-acre lake offers opportunities for fishing, renting Jon boats, and launching private boats.

Riverfront Park also offers specific landmarks along the Alabama River: a concrete path, a wooden bridge, and two overlooks. Old Cahawba combines archaeological history with access to natural wonders; the park along the river, by contrast, focuses on the path and views. Both perspectives complement the historic sites without promising the same kind of visit.

Visitor Information

The Selma Interpretive Center is closed until 2028 due to extensive construction work. A temporary location has opened for the Selma Welcome Center. Check the latest visitor information before your trip, especially if you plan to visit the center. Upon request, rangers regularly give groups brief orientation talks.

Discover More Destinations

Selma, Tyler, Marshall County, Morgan County, Colbert County, Madison, Mobile, Etowah

For the broader travel overview: Alabama.