Yet again another historical location in the heart of Montgomery. Just steps from the Alabama State…read moreCapitol you will find Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. This building dates to 1889. There was a wood structure that served as the church until they completed this brick structure. This church has hosted university founders, civil rights fighters, bus boycotter and labor rights activist as pastors. The most notable one being Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. That is where the King portion of the name comes from. Starting out as the Second Colored Baptist Church, they changed their name to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Then in 1978 they changed the name to what we know it as today, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. It is recognized as a US National Historic Landmark and is on the US National Register of Historic Places. This site currently is being considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sits on the UNESCO "Tentative List of World Heritage Sites." Outside there is a historic placard giving a brief history of the church. As well as there being a lamp outside that is "Lighting the Way" in honor of MLK. It is a must see when in Montgomery and not hard to get to.

I stopped by the historic Dexter Avenue Baptist Church while exploring Montgomery, AL on my…read morepersonal civil rights tour. This iconic church sits just a block away from Alabama's State Capitol building downtown, which really makes you think about how close these two different worlds were. The church is a must-see spot if you're interested in civil rights history. This is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as pastor from 1954 to 1960, and where much of the Montgomery Bus Boycott was planned and executed. While most people know about Rosa Parks' arrest that sparked the boycott, I learned that a young woman named Claudette Colvin was actually arrested for the same reason months before Parks, she was around 15 years of age. The church became a place where people fighting for equality could safely gather and galvanize during that turbulent era. To my chagrin, the church was closed during my visit, so I couldn't go inside (which was a shame). I still took plenty of photos of the outside, though. Montgomery has done a great job keeping up the building's exterior, so I imagine the inside is just as well-preserved. But what I found out about the church's architectural design is the building dates back to 1885 and was designed by Pelham J. Anderson, as mentioned on the historical marker. The combination of the brick structure with white accents (railings, trim) creates a classic look typical of many important Southern churches of that era. So shall we say a blend of Gothic and traditional elements. Here are some quick tips if you're planning to visit my fellow historians: * Review the church's website for times to tour * Parking is free on weekends (always 5 stars!) * There are other civil rights landmarks within walking distance that you might want to check out too * Resonable priced hotels are also nearby. Even though I didn't get to tour inside this historical landmark, just standing there and thinking about the history and the fearless people that were in that building was pretty powerful. It reminded me that we must continue to be strong and fearless in fighting against injustice in America today. If you're ever in Montgomery, definitely add this to your list of places to see and experience. Keep learning and going and stay positive!