Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a cultural and educational research center that promotes a comprehensive understanding for the significance of civil rights developments in Birmingham. Since opening its doors in 1992, BCRI has been visited by more than 2 million people from all 50 states and around the world. Visitors include adults, school children and students, families, researchers, and scholars.

Exhibits

Located in the heart of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument created by President Barack Obama in January 2017, BCRI is a sacred place and a “must-see” destination for those on a pilgrimage to retrace the history of the civil rights movement.

On display during Museum Day 2022, visitors can experience The Color of Baseball - a captivating special salute to Negro Leagues by Bill Chapman s. Visitors can also learn more about the man behind the name and be inspired at our exhibition, A. G. Gaston: The Man and His Legacy. A. G. Gaston’s legacy still inspires today’s emergent entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Participation in Museum Day is open to any tax-exempt or governmental museum or cultural venue on a voluntary basis. Smithsonian magazine encourages museum visitation, but is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of the participating museums and cultural venues, and does not subsidize museums that participate.