International Civil Rights Center & Museum

International Civil Rights Center & Museum is downtown at 134 S. Elm St. It is housed in the historic F.W. Woolworth building, where a “whites only” lunch counter came to symbolize a country's determination to guarantee civil rights for all after four African American college students engaged in a nonviolent protest act by daring to take their seats on Feb. 1, 1960. Exhibits salute the courageous students and other individuals who played key roles in the desegregation movement, relate the stories of battles lost and won by African Americans, and explore the ideals of global peace and equality.

Note: Visitors are cautioned at the beginning of the guided tour that photos and information presented in the “Hall of Shame,” which details the violent acts of the Jim Crow era, may be too disturbing for some. The graphic and heart-breaking images may upset sensitive viewers, particularly children. Young children and others are offered an opportunity to bypass this gallery.

Guided tours are available. Time: Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes minimum.