Join Wilhelmina Thomas on an insightful black history tour of Birmingham, Alabama. Discover the true and devastating experiences of African Americans in the most segregated city in the country.
Join Wilhelmina Thomas on an insightful black history tour of Birmingham, Alabama. Discover the true and devastating experiences of African Americans in the most segregated city in the country.
- Birmingham - The tour kicks off at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 20th Street North, moving along 20th Street towards 4th Avenue North, highlighting the significant Black contributions to Birmingham’s establishment.
- 4th Avenue North - This segment of the tour delves into the 1926 Red Line Zoning laws, the Palm Leaf Hotel, and the Chitlin’…
- Birmingham - The tour kicks off at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 20th Street North, moving along 20th Street towards 4th Avenue North, highlighting the significant Black contributions to Birmingham’s establishment.
- 4th Avenue North - This segment of the tour delves into the 1926 Red Line Zoning laws, the Palm Leaf Hotel, and the Chitlin’ Circuit.
- Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park - A park featuring statues dedicated to the local founder of the Temptations.
- 4th Avenue Business District - Explore the remnants of a once-thriving “city within a city,” with potential stops at Nelson Brothers and Green Acres.
- Civil Rights District - The heart of the Civil Rights National Historic Monument.
- Carver Theater - Renowned as one of the finest Black theaters, now home to the Jazz Hall of Fame. Visitors will also see the Prince Hall “Colored” Masonic Lodge.
- Kelly Ingram Park - An enhanced public park featuring powerful sculptures that depict Birmingham’s civil rights struggle. The park was a gathering place for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other movement groups.
- 16th Street Baptist Church - Located in Birmingham, Alabama, this church is a poignant symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, known for the tragic 1963 racially motivated bombing that claimed the lives of four young girls. It stands as a powerful testament to the civil rights struggle and remains a focal point in the ongoing pursuit of racial equality in the United States.
- A.G. Gaston Motel - Built by the esteemed African American businessman and entrepreneur Arthur George Gaston (1892-1996), this motel offered first-class lodging and dining to African American travelers in Birmingham, Alabama. Designed by local architect Stanley B. Echols, it opened in 1954.
- Lyric Theatre - The only remaining theater that permitted mixed, though still segregated, audiences.

- All Fees and Taxes
- All Fees and Taxes
This is not just a tour—it’s a journey through history.
Explore the streets of America’s most segregated city as they were experienced by those who lived through its most challenging and defining moments.
Your guide, Wilhelmina Thomas, is a storyteller, needlewoman, and “craftivist” who grew up in Birmingham’s Riley, Wenonah, and Hillman neighborhoods….
This is not just a tour—it’s a journey through history.
Explore the streets of America’s most segregated city as they were experienced by those who lived through its most challenging and defining moments.
Your guide, Wilhelmina Thomas, is a storyteller, needlewoman, and “craftivist” who grew up in Birmingham’s Riley, Wenonah, and Hillman neighborhoods. She attended schools that were pivotal in the city’s history: Wenonah Elementary, Riley Elementary, and Jones Valley High. Her earliest memories are intertwined with the church, the civic league, and the Civil Rights Movement.
This tour uncovers the reality behind the surface—the daily struggles, acts of defiance, and sacred spaces where ordinary people achieved extraordinary feats.
- Hear personal stories of life under Jim Crow
- Visit Kelly Ingram Park, the 16th Street Baptist Church, and other significant landmarks
- Reflect at sites of protest, pain, and perseverance
- Includes a complimentary “Witness Packet” digital download for direct bookings
They stood. We walk.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.