National Civil Rights Museum
Tennessee
The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, is a comprehensive complex dedicated to chronicling the history of the civil rights movement in the United States from the 17th century to today. The museum is uniquely built around the historic Lorraine Motel, the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. The complex includes additional buildings connected to King's assassination, such as the Young and Morrow Building and Canipe's Amusement Store. Exhibits feature a variety of artifacts including vehicles significant to civil rights history, such as a recreated Greyhound bus shell used by Freedom Riders and James Earl Ray's 1966 white Ford Mustang. The museum underwent extensive renovations and reopened in 2014 with enhanced multimedia and interactive displays. It serves as a powerful educational center and is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. The museum not only honors King's legacy but also explores broader themes of resistance, justice, and equality through diverse exhibits and programs.
ヒント: Visit on weekdays from Wednesday to Sunday between 9 AM and 5 PM; the museum is closed on Tuesdays. It is advisable to purchase tickets online in advance to avoid lines and to check for group reservation options. Spring and early April are poignant times to visit, coinciding with MLK commemorations. The museum offers educational programs and frequently updates exhibits, so checking their official website before visiting is recommended. Discounts may be available for groups, students, and seniors.
興味深い事実
- •The museum includes James Earl Ray's 1966 white Ford Mustang, the car he used in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
- •The Lorraine Motel was a prominent lodging for famous African American musicians in the 1960s, including Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin.
- •The museum complex includes the Young and Morrow Building where James Earl Ray initially confessed to killing Martin Luther King Jr.
- •A recreated burned shell of a Greyhound bus used by Freedom Riders is on display.
- •The museum is part of the South Main Street Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
歴史
Originally opened in 1924 as the Windsor Hotel, the site was renamed the Lorraine Motel in 1945 by owner Walter Bailey.
During segregation, it served as upscale lodging for African Americans.
After the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Bailey expanded the motel to remain competitive.
The motel gained historic significance after Martin Luther King Jr.
stayed in Room 306 in April 1968 during the Memphis sanitation strike.
King was assassinated there on April 4, 1968.
The museum complex was later established around the motel to preserve and interpret this pivotal history, reopening with expanded exhibits in 2014.
It became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in 2016.
場所ガイド
Lorraine Motel - Room 3061968
The exact room where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stayed and was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The balcony outside the room is preserved as a solemn historical site.
Young and Morrow Building1968
The building where James Earl Ray initially confessed and later recanted his confession of assassinating Dr. King. It is part of the museum complex highlighting the investigation and controversies surrounding the assassination.
Civil Rights Movement Exhibits
Interactive and multimedia exhibits tracing the history of civil rights from slavery through the 1960s and beyond, including key events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Memphis sanitation strike.
連絡先
電話: (901) 521-9699
