Atlanta played a unique leadership role in the American Civil Rights Movement. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights harnesses Atlanta’s legacy of civil rights to strengthen the worldwide movement for human rights.
The museum opened to the public on June 23, 2014. It is located adjacent to the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium.
The building has been compared to two hands cupped to hold something precious.
The New York Times named the Center for Civil and Human Rights as one of the biggest reasons to visit Atlanta.
The Center serves as the ideal place to reflect on the past, transform the present and inspire the future.
Remember Jim Crow laws ... “It shall be unlawful for any amateur White baseball team to play baseball on any vacant lot within two blocks of a playground devoted to the Negro race.”
“We want the center to be a magnet, drawing in the thinkers and the doers and the activists—sparking the kind of dialogue that makes a longstanding difference in our world culture.”
The center is an engaging cultural attraction that connects The American Civil Rights Movement to today's Global Human Rights Movements.
The Center features four immersive and thought-provoking exhibit spaces, including a continually rotating gallery of items from The Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection, where visitors can view the personal papers and items of Dr. King.
The Center also provides designated event spaces and educational programs inspiring visitors to join the ongoing dialogue about contemporary movements for human rights around the world.
• Don’t let the heavy subject matter deter you. Civil and human rights aren’t easy subjects to tackle, but the Center for Civil and Human Rights tells an uplifting and inspiring story. You’ll leave with an appreciation for how far we have come and hope for the future.
• Plan to spend a couple of hours there. You can make it through in an hour and a half, but to really take your time reading, observing and soaking in the exhibits, you’ll need at least two hours.
• Take note of the ambiance of each room you enter. Is it dimly lit? It probably represents a dark period of history. Is the room bright and full of light? That place most likely depicts a more hopeful moment in time.
