Freedom Rides Museum

Freedom Rides Museum In 1961 groups of volunteers made history by challenging the practice of segregated travel

This week’s song is “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan. This song from 1964 is one of many songs written by ...
01/06/2025

This week’s song is “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan. This song from 1964 is one of many songs written by Dylan that solidified his place in history as both a folk singer and activist. Bob Dylan is often called a poet for his masterful lyrics that touched on the difficult issues of the time.

Released in 1964, “The Times They Are A-Changin’” features powerful lyrics that shine alongside the simplistic accompaniment. The words speak of a coming change, both political and social, and the wave of young people who are bringing it about. The song did not have huge popular success in the US, reaching #20, but it reached #4 in the UK. If nothing else, the song further solidified Dylan’s place in history as one of the most recognized singer-songwriters of all time. Listen to the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90WD_ats6eE

Happy Birthday to Margaret Leonard who was born in 1942! She was just 19 years old when she traveled from Montgomery...
01/05/2025

Happy Birthday to Margaret Leonard who was born in 1942! She was just 19 years old when she traveled from Montgomery to Jackson on June 21, 1961.

Happy National Spaghetti Day! Why is that important you might ask? Well, spaghetti actually features in the story of the...
01/04/2025

Happy National Spaghetti Day! Why is that important you might ask? Well, spaghetti actually features in the story of the Freedom Rides.

After the siege of Ripley St. Baptist (Brick-a-Day), the Freedom Riders and organizers met with Civil Rights leaders to discuss the future of the Freedom Rides. They needed a place to go that wouldn’t draw immediate attention. The home of Dr. and Mrs. Harris provided this safe haven. Dr. Harris, a well known African American pharmacist, was no stranger to the Civil Rights Movement, having helped with organization during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955-56, not to mention that he was a neighbor to Dr. King during his time as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Just feeding a large group on no notice is a difficult task, especially when trying not to draw attention to the fact that a large group was staying there. One meal that can feed a large group both inexpensively and without requiring many ingredients is spaghetti. Therefore, the Freedom Riders and organizers all had spaghetti while guests at the Harris House.

The image seen here is of Freedom Riders and organizers discussing the future of Rides and whether they could or should continue.

It’s time for another and today we are spotlighting Woollcott Smith! Smith was born on June 9, 1941 in Baltimore, MD a...
01/03/2025

It’s time for another and today we are spotlighting Woollcott Smith! Smith was born on June 9, 1941 in Baltimore, MD and grew up in Michigan.

Woollcott Smith joined the Rides when he was 20 years old. At the time, he was a sophomore at Michigan State University in East Lansing. He and seven other Freedom Riders traveled by Greyhound from Nashville to Jackson on July 29, 1961 and were arrested for breach of peace.

After the Rides, Woollcott graduated from Michigan State in 1963, and did graduate work there and at John Hopkins University in Baltimore where he earned his doctorate. He worked to get more minorities to become graduate students at John Hopkins and was active in anti-war protests. For nearly 30 years, he taught statistics at Temple University. He was a senior fellow in the Marine Policy Center at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and co-authored The Cartoon Guide to Statistics.

Image of Woollcott Smith after he was arrested for his participation in the courtesy of MDAH.

01/02/2025

For those of you who missed it, here is the recording of our December Book Club discussion of "The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement" by Bob Zellner and Constance Curry. Special thanks to Freedom Rider Bob Zellner who joined us for the discussion. Keep an eye out for information on more events coming soon!

Happy New Year! The museum is closed today in observance of the New Years holiday. We will reopen for normal business ho...
01/01/2025

Happy New Year! The museum is closed today in observance of the New Years holiday. We will reopen for normal business hours on Thursday, January 2nd.

The museum will be closing at noon today and will reopen on Thursday, January 2nd for regular business hours.
12/31/2024

The museum will be closing at noon today and will reopen on Thursday, January 2nd for regular business hours.

The Freedom Rides Museum would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Eugene Levine who was born in 1926 in New York ...
12/30/2024

The Freedom Rides Museum would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Eugene Levine who was born in 1926 in New York City, NY. Levine fought in WWII as part of the 11th Airborne in Japan before returning to the States to become an English professor at Oklahoma State University.

Levine was one of the few Freedom Riders to join the movement without affiliation to any group like SNCC, CORE, or the NAACP. Upon arrival at the Greyhound station in Jackson, MS on June 19, 1961, police officers escorted him back to his car after he informed them that he was a veteran. Levine told them he would go straight back inside. When he went back into the station for the second time and sat down in the “Colored” waiting room, he was arrested and sent to Parchman Prison where he was cellmates with James Farmer.

After the Freedom Rides, Levine moved to Boulder, CO where he worked as a real estate developer until his retirement.

The image seen here is Levine’s mugshot taken after his arrest in Jackson, MS for participation in the Freedom Rides. Image courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

The museum will close tomorrow at noon and will be closed January 1st in observance of the New Years holidays. We will r...
12/30/2024

The museum will close tomorrow at noon and will be closed January 1st in observance of the New Years holidays. We will reopen for normal business hours on Thursday, January 2nd.

We at the Freedom Rides Museum would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Donna Garde who was born in 1935 in Middl...
12/29/2024

We at the Freedom Rides Museum would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Donna Garde who was born in 1935 in Middletown, CT. At the time of the Freedom Rides, Garde was working as an elementary school teacher in Westfield, NJ. She was part of the July 21,1961 Greyhound ride from Nashville, TN to Jackson, MS along with 3 others. All were arrested upon arrival at the Jackson, MS Greyhound Station.

After the Freedom Rides, Garde continued to be active in the Civil Rights Movement and returned to Mississippi to work in voter registration during Freedom Summer in 1964. She earned a masters degree in special education from Columbia University and taught special education and remedial English in greater New York City at both the high school and college levels. She is now retired and lives in New York City. Happy Birthday Ms. Garde!

The image seen here is Garde’s mugshot taken after her arrest in Jackson, MS for participation in the Freedom Rides. Image courtesy of Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Happy Birthday to Peter Stoner!Peter Stoner was 22 years old when he joined the . At that time, he was a student at ...
12/28/2024

Happy Birthday to Peter Stoner!

Peter Stoner was 22 years old when he joined the . At that time, he was a student at the University of Chicago. Stoner was part of the July 2,1961 Trailways ride from Montgomery, AL to Jackson, MS. He and four others were arrested upon arrival in Jackson for their participation in the Freedom Rides. After the Freedom Rides, Stoner transferred to Tougaloo College, gained his bachelors, and continued his part in the Civil Rights Movement throughout Mississippi. He was an active participant in Freedom Summer as well as many other protests. He went on to earn his masters and PhD in chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi. He later moved to Jackson to work as a car mechanic.

Today is the day! Set a reminder to join us today at 4pm CST via Zoom for our December virtual book club meeting. We wil...
12/28/2024

Today is the day! Set a reminder to join us today at 4pm CST via Zoom for our December virtual book club meeting. We will be discussing “The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement” by Bob Zellner and Constance Curry. This book tells the story of Bob Zellner, a student at Huntingdon College in Montgomery and the son, and grandson of Klansmen. After witnessing the Freedom Riders being attacked at our Greyhound station on May 20, 1961, Zellner chose to join the Rides and continued his work in the Movement for years after.

Freedom Rider and co-author Bob Zellner will be joining us for the discussion. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to meet a Freedom Rider and hear his unique story firsthand!

*You do not have to read the book to participate in the discussion. Email us ASAP at [email protected] for the Zoom link if you would like to join the discussion.

It’s almost time! Join us tomorrow, Dec.28th, at 4pm CST via Zoom for our December virtual book club meeting. We will be...
12/27/2024

It’s almost time! Join us tomorrow, Dec.28th, at 4pm CST via Zoom for our December virtual book club meeting. We will be discussing “The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement” by Bob Zellner and Constance Curry. This book tells the story of Bob Zellner, a student at Huntingdon College in Montgomery and the son, and grandson of Klansmen. After witnessing the Freedom Riders being attacked at our Greyhound station on May 20, 1961, Zellner chose to join the Rides and continued his work in the Movement for years after.

Freedom Rider and co-author Bob Zellner will be joining us for the discussion. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to meet a Freedom Rider and hear his unique story firsthand!

*You do not have to read the book to participate in the discussion. Email us at [email protected] for the Zoom link if you would like to join the discussion.

It’s and this week we are spotlighting Price Chatham! Chatham was born on June 5th, 1931 in New Gulf, TX. After grad...
12/27/2024

It’s and this week we are spotlighting Price Chatham!

Chatham was born on June 5th, 1931 in New Gulf, TX. After graduating from Tulane University, he moved to New York. At the time of the , he was working as a script analyst for Paramount Pictures.

After hearing the call for volunteers, 29 year old Chatham chose to leave his wife and young son to join the Rides. He and 5 others were arrested on June 2, 1961 after riding a Trailways bus from Montgomery, AL to Jackson, MS. All were charged with “Breach of Peace” and sent to the infamous maximum security Parchman Prison. While there, the Freedom Riders were denied mail privileges, preventing communication to worried loved ones. In response, Chatham’s son Rhys wrote a letter to President Kennedy pleading with him to let his father out of prison. The letter went unanswered and Chatham spent nearly 40 days in prison for his participation in the Freedom Rides.

The image seen here is Chatham’s mugshot taken after his arrest in Jackson, MS.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate! We are closed today, but will be open from 11-4 tomorrow. Stop ...
12/25/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate! We are closed today, but will be open from 11-4 tomorrow. Stop by with the family to learn all about the Freedom Rides.

The museum will be closing at noon today and closed tomorrow in observance of Christmas. We will reopen on Thursday, the...
12/24/2024

The museum will be closing at noon today and closed tomorrow in observance of Christmas. We will reopen on Thursday, the 26th, for regular business hours.

It’s and we are continuing with our theme of protest songs in popular music with “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught” f...
12/23/2024

It’s and we are continuing with our theme of protest songs in popular music with “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught” from the Broadway musical South Pacific.

South Pacific premiered in 1949 to sold out crowds and is the 2nd longest running Broadway show in history. The show won 10 Tony Awards in 1950 and another 7 for the revival of the production in 2008. With a total of 17, South Pacific has won more Tony Awards than any other musical in history. In addition to this success, the album sold over 1 million copies which would have earned it Platinum status today.

Despite the overall success, the show faced controversy for one song in particular. In “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” Lt. Joseph Cable discusses how racism and prejudice are not learned, but taught at a very young age. The musical was released during the Second Red Scare, when calls for racial integration were often smeared as communist propaganda. When creators Rodgers and Hammerstein were asked to remove the song in order for the show to be performed in various locations throughout the South, they adamantly refused stating that the song was part of the key message of the musical. Enjoy this performance by Bill Lee from the 1958 motion picture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPf6ITsjsgk

The museum will be closing at noon tomorrow in observance of the Christmas holidays. We will reopen on the 26th for regu...
12/23/2024

The museum will be closing at noon tomorrow in observance of the Christmas holidays. We will reopen on the 26th for regular business hours. See our holiday hours listed below.

Address

210 South Court Street
Montgomery, AL
36104

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

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Videos

December Book Club Discussion feat. Bob Zellner
December Book Club Discussion feat. Bob Zellner

For those of you who missed it, here is the recording of our December Book Club discussion of "The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement" by Bob Zellner and Constance Curry. Special thanks to Freedom Rider Bob Zellner who joined us for the discussion. Keep an eye out for information on more events coming soon!

September Book Club Discussion featuring Charles Person and Richard Rooker
September Book Club Discussion featuring Charles Person and Richard Rooker

Here is the recording of the September book club discussion of "Buses Are A Comin'" with authors Dr. Charles Person and Richard Rooker in case you missed it. *October's discussion of "The Movement Made Us: A Father, a son, and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride" by David J. Dennis Jr. and David J. Dennis Sr. has been moved to the 3rd Saturday, October 19th at 4pm CST to accomodate our guest. Disregard the day and time given in the video.

August Book Club Discussion- "Just A Neighbor: A Child's Memoir of the Civil Rights Movement" with author Dr. Valda Harris Montgomery
August Book Club Discussion- "Just A Neighbor: A Child's Memoir of the Civil Rights Movement" with author Dr. Valda Harris Montgomery

Here is the recording for those that missed our discussion of "Just A Neighbor: A Child's Memoir of the Civil Rights Movement" on Saturday with Dr. Montgomery.

July Book Club Discussion- "Pushing Forward" with co-author and Freedom Rider Hezekiah Watkins
July Book Club Discussion- "Pushing Forward" with co-author and Freedom Rider Hezekiah Watkins

For those of you who missed it, here is the recording of the discussion of our July book club selection "Pushing Forward" by Hezekiah Watkins and Andrea Ledwell. We were joined by both Mr. Watkins and Ms. Ledwell for this facinating discussion.

June Book Club Discussion- "Freedom Rider Diary: Smuggled Notes from Parchman Prison" with author and Freedom Rider Carol Ruth Silver
June Book Club Discussion- "Freedom Rider Diary: Smuggled Notes from Parchman Prison" with author and Freedom Rider Carol Ruth Silver

Here is the recording of our June Book Club discussion of "Freedom Rider Diary: Smuggled Notes From Parchman Prison" by Carol Ruth Silver for those of you that missed it. We were joined by author, politician and Freedom Rider Carol Ruth Silver for this discussion. If you are interested in joining us for future discussions, email us at [email protected]. #VirtualBookClub #FreedomRides

May Book Club Discussion- "The Road South" with author B.J. Hollars
May Book Club Discussion- "The Road South" with author B.J. Hollars

For those of you that missed it, here is the recording of our discussion of "The Road South: Personal Stories of the Freedom Riders" with author B.J. Hollars. If you are interested in joining the virtual book club, email us at [email protected].

April Book Club Discussion- "The Judge" with Thomas Rains, executive director of The Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. Institute
April Book Club Discussion- "The Judge" with Thomas Rains, executive director of The Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. Institute

Thank you to everyone who joined in on our April Book Club discussion on "The Judge". In case you missed it, you can watch/listen to it here. Special thanks to Thomas Rains of the The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute for joining us. Want to join? Send us an email at [email protected] #virtualbookclub #FreedomRides

March Book Club Discussion- "Deep In Our Hearts- Nine White Women in the Freedom Movement" with author and Freedom Rider Joan Browning
March Book Club Discussion- "Deep In Our Hearts- Nine White Women in the Freedom Movement" with author and Freedom Rider Joan Browning

This past Saturday the Book Club was pleased to host #FreedomRider Joan Browning as our special guest for our March discussion of "Deep In Our Hearts". For those of you that were unable to join us, the session was recorded. #VirtualBookClub #FreedomRides

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