THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE
A tour through the International Civil Rights Center & Museum is an engaging and educational journey through the challenges African Americans faced in the struggle for equal rights. With the historic F.W. Woolworth lunch counter as its centerpiece, the Museum's exhibits tell the story of the Greensboro Four, as well as other key human and civil rights struggles and achievements.
- All Men are Created Equal
This introductory exhibit builds an understanding for Museum visitors who may hold no memory of the injustice experienced by African Americans. It transitions visitors from the 21st century to an era when segregation and "Jim Crow" laws permeated and segregated society. - The Hall of Shame
This exhibit exposes the violent and turbulent times that marked the transition away from the vestiges of slavery into the activism of the civil rights movement and the battle against "Jim Crow." - A Moment that Changed America
Visitors experience a filmed reenactment of the discussion between the Greensboro Four on the night of Jan. 31, 1960, when the freshmen quartet decided to take action. - The Lunch Counter Experience
Set against the backdrop of the authentic lunch counter, Museum visitors view film recreations of the nearly six-month long effort that successfully integrated the F.W. Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., during 1960. - The Portal
Visitors will interact with a reproduction of the Greensboro Rail Depot, one of the major stops for southbound trains entering the "Jim Crow" South. The exhibit will also narrate the plight of the African- American Pullman Porters and how they successfully established the nation's first black union. - Access Denied: The Battle for Equality of Opportunity
This exhibit covers discrimination in virtually every aspect of society including: education, voting, employment, transportation, housing and recreation. - I'll Make Me A World
The exhibit highlights the unique accomplishments of African Americans and institutions created to service their communities despite the constraints segregation imposed upon them. - The Church and the Movement
The faith community was one of the most centralized forces in the battle for justice in America. This exhibit showcases the power, influence and vulnerability of the church as a place of organization, empowerment and worship. - The Schools: Separate and Unequal
Life-sized images provide visitors with alternating scenes between a 1950s-era black classroom with that of a more prosperous white classroom, demonstrating the inequality between the nation's segregated educational systems. - Politics and the Voting Booth
The focal point of this exhibit is an array of interactive voter experiences and ballot boxes from the era that includes voter registration forms and questionnaires. - Courts and the Quest for Justice
This exhibit highlights actions from the Supreme Court that buttressed the efforts of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and other organizations to support the peoples' movement with a legal foundation. - Jail, No Bail!
Jail bars frame a wall of 1,200 mug shots of protestors who were arrested throughout the South. Highlighted are the names of the earliest protestors arrested in the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins. - Direct Action: The Economics of Protest
Museum visitors experience some of America's landmark events including: the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Selma to Montgomery March, Freedom Summer, the Poor People's Campaign and the March on Washington. Each event, galvanized by community activism, reflected resistance and economic boycotts in support of the civil rights movement. - In Memoriam to Lives Lost:
A Wall of Remembrance stands in memoriam to lives lost in the battle for civil rights and to inspire courage in future generations. One hundred men, women and children who paid the ultimate sacrifice in America's battle for freedom and equality will be honored here. - A Changed World
This exhibit explores the non-violent global conflict as it is reflected on nations around the world. The display is dedicated to the continuing journey and the evolving non-violent civil rights, equality and peace movements documenting the roles of emerging activist groups and new coalitions. - And Still I Rise
This exhibit honors the great athletes and entertainers who, with standout performances, formed a list of firsts while creating a legacy of excellence for future generations.