Rosa Parks Library and Museum

The Library

Civil Rights Education Summit

The Life of Mrs. Rosa L. Parks
The Montgomery Bus Boycott

The Renaissance of Downtown Montgomery
How You Can Help
The Dedication of the Rosa Parks Library and Museum
Quotes from the Dedication

Commemorative Brick Program

Special: Rosa Parks - A Woman Who Changed A Nation

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TROY-Montgomery

Rosa L. Parks Library and Museum
Listen to an Audio Description of the Rosa Parks Museum Provided by InfoCenter Alabama.



Troy University Rosa Parks Museum presents
a Rosa Parks Birthday Tribute
"A Rose Among Thorns" Created and Performed by Ella Joyce February 4, 2008 Alabama Shakespeare Festival Festival Stage 7:30 p.m.
Read More...

In Honor of Courage

The Struggle...
In the long struggle against segregation, there was only one "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement". In 1955, a 42-year-old African-American seamstress engaged in a simple act of civil disobedience that launched a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement. The seamstress was Mrs. Rosa Parks. The act of disobedience was refusing to yield her seat on a public bus to a white man. The pivotal event was the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her quiet courageous act changed America, its view of black people and redirected the course of history. Rosa Parks is a symbol to all Americans to remain free.


The Boycott...
On December 5, 1955, four days after her arrest, Mrs. Parks was found guilty and the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. In response to her conviction, the African-American community in Montgomery boycotted the city bus line. Instead they walked or banded together to organize alternate transportation. The boycott continued strong until 381 days later when the United States Supreme Court ruled the segregation of bus service to be unconstitutional.

The Tribute... The Rosa Parks Library and Museum serves as an historical milestone to those who strive to understand the event that began the famous bus boycott. Where visitors used to stand and find only an historical marker and an abandoned building, they now will find a state-of-the-art interactive museum. They are able to see and hear about the past to help them better understand their own futures.

The Museum... is a major landmark in the revitalization of downtown Montgomery constructed on the site of the old Empire Theatre where Mrs. Parks made her courageous and historic stand in 1955. The interpretive museum occupies the first floor and 7,000 square feet of a three-story, 55,000 square foot building that also contains the TROY-Montgomery Campus Library. It includes space for permanent and special exhibits as well as a 103-seat, 2200 square foot multimedia auditorium. In a non-violent and non-threatening manner, six distinct and unique areas inside the museum tell the story of bravery and courage of early civil rights soldiers.

Artifacts include a restored 1955 station wagon (see in the second picture, above), a replica of the public bus on which Mrs. Parks was sitting that day (seen above), and original historical documents of that era loaned by the City of Montgomery. Hear more about the Rosa Parks Museum, click here



The Children's Wing... In the new Children’s Wing, visitors “go back in time” on the Cleveland Avenue Time Machine to discover that things just don’t happen – people make things happen. Visitors come to realize that they, too, can make a difference just as Rosa Parks, E.D. Nixon, Jo Ann Robinson, Fred Gray, Claudette Colvin and many others made a difference following in the footsteps of Dred Scott, Harriet Tubman, Homer Plessy and others who had gone on before.














As visitors encounter the Cleveland Avenue Time Machine, they see what they think is a standard 1955 Montgomery city bus. On closer inspection they discover the vehicle has no wheels and indeed appears to be floating above a layer of violet-colored light. The vehicle is surrounded by a strange array of imposing equipment, lighting effects, glowing pipes and low fog. On one side of the vehicle, huge Time Diodes are ready to trigger Time Travel. On the other side, a similarly imposing sequence of equipment represents the collection and acceleration of “Tachyons” to power the Time Diodes.

The strange machineries of time travel emit pulsing light in random patterns as though their circuitry has somehow been damaged by fast traveling Tachyons. The effect is designed to make guests sense that huge energies might be under somewhat imperfect control. Strange and very low frequency audio effects envelop the space. Surrounding walls seem to be undulating in colorful abstract patterns as images from all eras of history drift by.

Cloud ceiling lighting fires in random patterns as though it is heat lightning. These effects occur prior to and after the program. Strange and very low frequency audio effects envelop the space.

Guests approach the bus entrance door along a railed walkway. They enter the bus and meet the driver, a curious assemblage of engine parts. His eyes are glowing and light is pulsing along his limbs. His name is Mr. Rivets and he greets visitors in a strange mechanical voice.

Visitors are transported through time from to the early 1800’s to the early “Jim Crow” era where they observe scenes of segregation and social and legal challenges made by individuals like Harriet Tubman, Dred Scott and Homer Plessy. Visitors also learn about the various legal challenges that helped reshape the thinking of the 20th century that discrimination and segregation were both immoral and illegal.

Upon returning back through time to Montgomery, Alabama, visitors are encouraged to visit the second floor Research Center, where they can learn much more about the legal and social challenges involving a segregated bus system in Montgomery, Alabama. In addition, visitors can view numerous historical documents and hear testimonials of men and women who actually participated in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and 1956.


Location:
Museum: 252 Montgomery Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
Children's Wing: 220 Montgomery Street, Montgomery, AL 36104

Hours:
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sundays and Holidays Closed (Except for Special Tours of 50 or more) Call 334-241-8661

Admission:
12 years and under: $3.50
Over 12: $5.50

Alabama College Student's with a Valid Student ID: $4.50
AAA Discount: subtract $1.00 from Regular Adult Price
Discount for both Museum & Children's Wing: subtract $1.00 from Regular Adult Price

Reservations:
Reservations are required for groups consisting of ten (10) or more persons.

Phone Numbers:

  • For Tours: (334) 241-8661
  • Gift Shop: (334) 241-8616
  • Museum Receptionist: (334) 241-8615
  • Children's Wing: (334) 241-8702