Top Tour Guides: Alabama's Civil Rights Trail
Don't miss the chance to meet these top tour guides along Alabama's Civil Rights Trail who lived through the movement and share their firsthand stories in Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham.
We filmed with these guides, or as you might call them "experience givers" as they are so much more than guides. They are featured in "Travels with Darley: Alabama's Civil Rights Trail Part I" and "Part II.”
Montgomery Tour Guides:
Civil Rights Trail in Alabama
Definitely take a tour with Wanda Battle in Montgomery, Alabama. We also recommend taking Michelle Browder's trolley tour with her cute dog Nick. Wanda Battle participated in the Civil Rights movement. She and her sister used their beautiful voices to sing in rallies as children. She will illuminate the trail with personal insights and optimism. Her story is remarkable as is her shining personality.
Follow Wanda Battle on a tour of the major sites of the Civil Rights Trail featured on “Travels with Darley: Alabama Civil Rights Trail, Episode 2,” through her Legendary Tours company (Tel. 334-819-6044) such as:
The former Montgomery City Jail
First Baptist Church
Alabama State Capitol
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church
Dexter Parsonage Museum
The Harris House
The Ben Moore Hotel/The Malden Brothers Barber Shop
Rosa Parks Apartment
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Holt Street Baptist Church
Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Join Black artist and activist Michelle Browder and her dog, Nick (featured on “Travels with Darley: AL Civil Rights Trail, Episode 2”) on a path through the history of Montgomery and the Civil Rights Movement. Michelle’s aunt was Aurelia Browder, the plaintiff in the 1956 U.S. District Court case Browder v. Gayle, in which bus segregation was ruled unconstitutional. On her trolley tour, participants learn about the history of Alabama, the Native American narrative and the slave narrative. She also mixes in a look at her public art and other sites of importance to women specifically.
We suggest contacting Michelle through her Facebook page or calling (334) 296-3024. You can also email Michelle at iammorethan @ icloud.com.
Selma, Alabama Tour Guides: Alabama's Civil Rights Trail
JoAnne Bland in Selma, Alabama has a remarkable story. You can book a tour with her to hear it firsthand and get insights into Selma through Journeys for the Soul with JoAnne Bland, her tour organization. You can reach them by calling 334-412-6604 or emailing journeysforthesoul @ gmail.com. Her assistant is Kimberly.
With JoAnne, you can do a custom tour or take one of her 1.5 or 2.5 hour tours. She also offers a lunch with a history maker experience.
Some places she might take you on your tour of Selma include:
Brown Chapel AME Church● George Washington Carver Homes● First Baptist Church● Good Samaritan Hospital● R. B. Hudson High School● Selma University● The Jackson Museum● Historic District of Selma● Live Oak Cemetery
For her lunch or dinner with a History Maker, you can meet with a participant in the Movement. McRae Learning Center, a school run by Mrs. Bland’s Sister, Mrs. Sadie Moss, provides the meal. The children at McRae test higher than any other students in the state. It is a private school that doesn’t receive much funding, but because Mrs. Moss doesn’t turn any student away, they are constantly scraping for cash. Having lunch at McRae is just one of the ways that Journeys For The Soul supports the school and the community and that you can as well!
Birmingham Tour Guides: Alabama's Civil Rights Trail
In Birmingham's Civil Rights District, take the time to see the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI).
You can hire tour guide Barry McNealy with Milestones Walking Tourto guide you through the museum and this area. Barry McNealy is also a teacher, so his schedule is based on working around classes, but if you can figure out the time, it's worth it. He has fantastic knowledge of the museum and movement, making for an enriching tour.
McNealy offers hour-long tours starting at the main entrance to BCRI. These also include the Fourth Avenue Business District. You can also try calling Barry for a private tour at 205-786-7631.
There are other great tours, tour guides and locations. These are but a few of the great "experience givers" we met and filmed with on our travels.
You can also follow our 5 day/ 4 night itinerary for Alabama's Civil Rights Trail on your own and book these guides or have our preferred travel advisor out the trip together for you!
