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Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

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Birmingham, AL
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Educational center & museum promoting history in Birmingham, AL. Exploring our past & working together to build a better future.
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For group visits: https://www.bcri.org/groups/. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) documents the struggle of African American citizens in Birmingham to become full participants in the city's government and business community. Because this struggle was a social movement that caught the attention of the world, Birmingham is an appropriate place for an institution that serves the world as a center for study and reflection.

05/27/2026

Temperatures at BCRI are now near normal operating levels, and we will reopen to the public at Noon today.

This brief delayed opening will allow staff and vendors time to complete final preparations for safe public access to the building.

Thank you again for your patience, support, and understanding throughout this process. We look forward to welcoming visitors back today!

05/23/2026

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is pleased to share that we have secured a temporary HVAC system while repairs to the facility’s primary system are underway.

The temporary system will allow BCRI to reopen to the public next week with additional permanent repair work expected to continue into the following week.

We are incredibly grateful for the public’s patience, understanding, and overwhelming outpouring of support during this temporary closure, including the many individuals who have donated, renewed memberships, and reached out with messages of encouragement. We also appreciate the continued support, partnership, and coordination of the City of Birmingham, Mayor Randall Woodfin and the City Council, as efforts continue to stabilize the facility and complete repairs.

Your encouragement and concern for BCRI, our staff, and our collections have meant a great deal to us during this time.

BCRI remains committed to working collaboratively with the City as we address both immediate facility needs and the long-term stewardship of this important civic institution. We look forward to welcoming visitors back soon and to the exciting days ahead for the Institute and our community.

We will continue providing updates through our official communication channels.

— Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

05/22/2026

Due to an ongoing HVAC system failure impacting the facility, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will temporarily close to the public effective today, May 22nd, at 3 pm, until further notice.

Over the past several days, BCRI has been working closely with City facilities personnel and technical vendors to assess and address the issue. However, continued system instability and rising indoor temperatures have created conditions that are not suitable for visitors, students, staff, or public programming.

The decision to temporarily close was made out of an abundance of caution and in alignment with BCRI’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all guests.

We recognize the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as repairs and further technical assessments continue.

Updates regarding reopening timelines will be shared through BCRI’s website and official social media channels as additional information becomes available.

05/20/2026

📢 SAVE THE DATE: Juneteenth Jubilee 2026 💫

This year, we’re planning a district-wide celebration of freedom with free admission to multiple historic sites, free tours, music, food trucks, vendors, kid-friendly activities, line dancing, + more!

Join us in the heart of the Civil Rights District this Juneteenth for a day of history, culture, community, and celebration 🎉

Stay tuned for more details! For now, save the date–
📅 June 19, 2026
📍 Civil Rights District

05/16/2026

We have the blueprint right here.

Watch Annie Pearl Avery’s full oral history at the link in the comments!

05/08/2026

Yesterday, we had such a great time at the annual meeting hosted by the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau!

Our CEO, Deborah Bowie, joined Julian Maha and Dan Williams for a conversation about tourism, collaboration, and the importance of intentionally sharing the heart and soul of Birmingham with the world.

We also got to celebrate our very own Barry McNealy, who was honored as Ambassador of the Year! We couldn’t be more proud.

It was a wonderful day of connection, celebration, and community. 💛

05/06/2026

🚨 BE ADVISED: The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will close today at 2:00pm due to the threat of inclement weather. We will resume normal operations tomorrow at 10:00am.

04/08/2026

We are excited to announce the opening of our new sensory room at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 🎉

Designed and installed by KultureCity, this room provides a calming, supportive space for individuals with sensory sensitivities like autism 🧩 and other neurodivergent conditions.

This project was made possible through the generous support of Andrew Wyatt 🙏🏾. We were honored to have him and his family join us at our dedication ceremony.

Our President & CEO, Deborah Bowie, welcomed him and other key partners to share remarks, including Mayor Randall Woodfin, Dr. Julian Maha of Kulture City, Rev. Steve Skipper, and BCRI Board Chairman Ryan Faught.

The BCRI is proud to join a nationwide network of inclusive spaces, with our installation marking KultureCity’s 1000th sensory room 🙌🏾

We also plan to become KultureCity Sensory Inclusive™ certified by training BCRI staff to recognize and support guests with invisible disabilities, including autism, PTSD, dementia, and anxiety.

This sensory room reflects our continued commitment to ensure every visitor, regardless of ability, can fully experience history for themselves.

04/07/2026

Join us for a free walking tour of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument led by our very own Barry McNealy!

This one-day only, two-hourlong tour will start at the Shuttlesworth statue in front of the BCRI.

📆 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏱️ 10:00am-12:00pm
📍 Starting at the Shuttlesworth Statue at 520 16th St N
🔗 Register at bcri.org/events

04/05/2026

📣 ATTENTION MIDDLE SCHOOLERS: You're invited to join us for Community of S.T.R.E.A.Mers workshop this month featuring KRU Hip Hop!

Students will learn about movement, music, and storytelling in this hands-on workshop led by teaching artists KRU Hip Hop.

Space is limited, registration is required.

📆 April 11, 2026
⏱️ 12:00pm-2:00pm
📍 Birmingham Civil Rights Institute | Commons
🔗 Register at bcri.org/events

✨ Share this with a middle schooler you know!

04/03/2026

Want to get involved at BCRI?

We’re looking for volunteers to join our team! Come to our Volunteer Orientation on Wednesday, April 8th to learn how you can make an impact.

No experience required. All you need is a willingness to help!

At orientation, you’ll:
✅ Fill out initial paperwork
✅ Learn about volunteer opportunities through a Q&A session
✅ Get familiar with the galleries with a mini scavenger hunt

Light refreshments will be provided. Must be 18 or older to join.

📍 Resource Gallery, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
📆 April 8th | 10 AM – 12 PM
🔗 Sign up at bcri.org/events

Address

520 16th Street N
Birmingham, AL
35203

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+12053289696

Website

http://www.bcri.org/

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