Selma to Montgomery Highway - National Historic Trail

The Selma To Montgomery Highway is not just US 80 connecting Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, Alabama. This 54 mile stretch of highway is also a National Historic Trail that was part of one of the most dramatic demonstrations of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. This National Historic Trail tells the story of a turbulent time in American history, and is preserved so that the nation can remember the lessons learned from the march that took place on the Selma To Montgomery Highway.

The US Highway connecting Selma and Montgomery was the focal point of the climax that ended the decades long struggle for voter equality in the United States. Now listed as a National Historic Trail, represented the final push of African American demonstrators who marched on Selma, Alabama, as part of a demonstration demanding the right to vote in U.S. elections.

The turning point of this objective came in 1965 as Civil Rights activists converged on the town of Selma, Alabama. The demonstration was carried out as a series of strategically planned marches to the city, with the first being carried out on March 7, 1965. That was a fateful day that shocked those following the event in the national media.

During the March 7 march, more than 500 peaceful demonstrators took to the streets of Selma and began a march that was intended to bring attention to the African American community's lack of rights and the ability to vote. As the demonstrators approached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, there path was blocked by dozens of Alabama State Troopers who were obstructing the path forward.

What happened next would shock the world, as the State Troopers attacked the unarmed, non-violent demonstrators. Many of the demonstrators suffered serious injury and were covered with blood, causing the day to be referred to as Bloody Sunday. This was truly a turning point in the Civil Rights movement, and galvanized the community like never before.