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The Legacy Museum: Confronting American Injustice

Explore America's history of racial injustice, from slavery to mass incarceration, through immersive exhibits and powerful narratives at the Legacy Museum.

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The Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, explores the history of racial injustice in the U.S., from slavery to mass incarceration. Through immersive exhibits, first-person narratives, and historical artifacts, the museum encourages reflection on the past and its impact on contemporary society.

A brief summary to The Legacy Museum

  • Wednesday 9 am-5 pm
  • Thursday 9 am-5 pm
  • Friday 9 am-5 pm
  • Saturday 9 am-5 pm
  • Sunday 9 am-5 pm

Local tips

  • Allocate at least 3-5 hours for a thorough visit to the museum.
  • Tickets can be purchased at each site or online.
  • Consider starting your visit at the Legacy Museum and then taking the free shuttle to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, followed by the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park.
  • Ask a staff member for a re-entry wristband when exiting the museum.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From downtown Montgomery locations like the Rosa Parks Museum or the Civil Rights Memorial, the Legacy Museum is an easy 10-15 minute walk. Head north on N Court Street. The museum will be on your left; look for the Legacy Pavilion, which houses the welcome center, ticket office, and free parking.

  • Public Transport

    Montgomery Area Transit (The M) offers bus routes that stop near the Legacy Museum. From the Intermodal Transfer Center, several routes will get you within a few blocks of the museum. A single ride fare is $2.

  • Taxi/Ride-Share

    Taxi and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available in Montgomery. A short ride from downtown hotels or attractions to The Legacy Museum typically costs between $8 and $15, depending on traffic and distance.

  • Driving

    If driving, use GPS to navigate to 400 N Court St, Montgomery, AL 36104. Free parking is available at the Legacy Pavilion. From I-85, take exit 172 for Court Street and follow the signs. Note that parking can fill up quickly during peak hours.

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Discover more about The Legacy Museum

The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration, located in Montgomery, Alabama, is a deeply impactful institution dedicated to exploring the history of racial injustice in the United States. Founded by Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), the museum is not just a repository of historical artifacts; it is an immersive journey through the dark chapters of American history, designed to foster understanding, reflection, and a commitment to a more just future. The museum's location is significant, standing on the site of a former cotton warehouse where enslaved Black people were once forced to labor. This historical context sets the stage for the museum's unflinching examination of slavery, from its origins in the transatlantic slave trade to its brutal manifestation in the American South. The museum presents powerful exhibits that recreate the experience of enslaved people, from the slave pens where they were held to the auction blocks where they were sold. Beyond slavery, the Legacy Museum explores the era of racial terror and lynching that followed the Civil War. Through extensive research and documentation, the EJI has uncovered the stories of thousands of Black people who were victims of racial violence. The museum presents this history using photographs, documents, and first-person accounts. The museum also connects the past to the present, exploring the legacy of slavery and racial terror in contemporary issues such as mass incarceration, police brutality, and racial bias in the criminal justice system. Through data-rich exhibits and interactive displays, the museum reveals the ways in which the past continues to shape the present. The museum utilizes a range of innovative and impactful exhibits, including first-person narratives, world-class art, and data-rich displays. Visitors can hear, see, and be in close proximity to slave replicas, which model what it was like to be an enslaved person awaiting sale at the auction block. The museum also provides a space for dialogue and discussion, encouraging visitors to share their thoughts and feelings about the issues raised in the exhibits.

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