Lowndes Interpretive Center, River Region Travel Guide

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Explore the pivotal role of Lowndes County in the Civil Rights Movement at this National Park Service interpretive center.

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Lowndes Interpretive Center

The Lowndes Interpretive Center, part of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, commemorates the pivotal role Lowndes County, Alabama, played in the Civil Rights Movement [2]. Exhibits detail the struggles and triumphs of the Voting Rights March, the Tent City established for displaced Black families, and the sacrifices of activists like Jonathan Daniels and Viola Liuzzo [2, 3, 4].

A brief summary to Lowndes Interpretive Center

7002 US-80, Hayneville, Alabama, 36040, US
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Monday 9 am-4:30 pm
Tuesday 9 am-4:30 pm
Wednesday 9 am-4:30 pm
Thursday 9 am-4:30 pm
Friday 9 am-4:30 pm
Saturday 9 am-4:30 pm

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Lowndes Interpretive Center.

Allow at least 2-3 hours to fully experience the exhibits and film.
Combine your visit with other sites along the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail for a comprehensive understanding of the movement [2].
The center is wheelchair accessible [3, 4, 5].

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Getting There

Driving

The Lowndes Interpretive Center is located on US Highway 80, approximately 25 miles west of Montgomery and about 50 miles east of Selma [2]. From Montgomery, take US-80 W. The center is well-signed and easily accessible directly from the highway [2]. Limited parking is available on-site [2]. There are no tolls on this route [2].

Discover more about Lowndes Interpretive Center

Located in Hayneville, Alabama, the Lowndes Interpretive Center stands as a powerful reminder of the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for voting rights [2]. Opened in 2006, this National Park Service facility is dedicated to the people and events that shaped the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March [2].Lowndes County, despite its majority-Black population, was a stronghold of white supremacy where discriminatory practices prevented Black citizens from voting [2, 9]. The center's exhibits vividly portray the marchers' experiences, the strategies of civil rights leaders, and the impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 [2]. Interactive displays, historical photographs, and compelling narratives bring these stories to life [2].Key exhibits focus on the establishment of "Tent City," which housed families evicted by white landowners for their voting rights activities [2, 3, 4, 5]. Visitors can also learn about Jonathan Daniels, a white seminarian murdered for supporting the movement, and Viola Liuzzo, who was killed while assisting the marchers [2, 3, 4, 5]. The center also features the film "Never Lose Sight of Freedom," with interviews from civil rights activists and historians [2].The Lowndes Interpretive Center is more than a museum; it's a place for reflection, remembrance, and education [2]. It offers a profound understanding of Lowndes County's role in the Civil Rights Movement and the ongoing pursuit of equality [2].