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Edmund Pettus Bridge: A Civil Rights Landmark

Walk in the footsteps of history on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a pivotal landmark of the Civil Rights Movement in Selma, Alabama.

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The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, is an iconic symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, most notably for the events of 'Bloody Sunday' in 1965. Visitors can walk in the footsteps of civil rights marchers and reflect on the bridge's profound historical significance.

A brief summary to Edmund Pettus Bridge

Local tips

  • Walk across the bridge to experience the history and reflect on the events of Bloody Sunday [3, 6].
  • Visit the Selma Interpretive Center at the foot of the bridge to learn more about the Selma to Montgomery marches [3, 4, 12].
  • Explore the nearby National Voting Rights Museum and Institute for an in-depth look at the struggle for voting rights [3, 4, 12].
  • Consider visiting Brown Chapel AME Church, a historic meeting place for civil rights leaders [12, 18].
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From downtown Selma, the Edmund Pettus Bridge is easily accessible on foot [4]. Head south on Broad Street toward the Alabama River. The bridge will be directly in front of you [4]. The walk is approximately 5-10 minutes from most downtown locations, including the Selma Interpretive Center and the National Voting Rights Museum [4]. There are sidewalks on both sides of Broad Street leading to the bridge [4].

  • Driving

    If driving from outside of Selma, follow U.S. Highway 80 Business (US 80 Bus.) into downtown [4]. US 80 Bus becomes Broad Street [4]. Continue on Broad Street, and the Edmund Pettus Bridge will be directly ahead as you approach the Alabama River [4]. Limited street parking is available near the bridge [4]. Additional parking can be found in downtown Selma, a short walk away [4]. Be aware of parking regulations and time limits [4].

  • Public Transport

    Public transportation options in Selma are limited [4, 13]. However, regional bus services may connect Selma to other cities [4, 13]. From the Selma Greyhound Bus Station, taxis or rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can provide a ride to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, located downtown on Water Avenue [4, 13]. A short taxi or rideshare ride will cost approximately $5 - $10 [4].

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Discover more about Edmund Pettus Bridge

The Edmund Pettus Bridge, spanning the Alabama River in Selma, is a powerful landmark in American history [5, 9, 18]. Built in 1940, the four-lane bridge is named after Edmund Winston Pettus, a Confederate general and Grand Dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan [2, 7, 8, 9]. Despite its controversial namesake, the bridge has become a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement [5, 6, 10]. On March 7, 1965, known as "Bloody Sunday," civil rights marchers were violently attacked by law enforcement officers as they attempted to cross the bridge during a march from Selma to Montgomery in support of voting rights [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]. The brutal scene was televised, galvanizing national support for the movement and leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 [8, 9, 10]. Today, the Edmund Pettus Bridge is a National Historic Landmark and a key site on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail [6, 7, 9, 10]. Visitors can walk across the bridge, visit the nearby Selma Interpretive Center, and reflect on the events that took place there [3, 4, 6, 12]. The bridge serves as a reminder of the struggle for civil rights and the ongoing fight for equality [5, 6].

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