Renovations at the historic A.G. Gaston Motel are sending the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument’s visitor center to a new temporary home just down the street.

Temporary visitor center opens at Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Aug. 19

Starting Wednesday, Aug. 19, the National Park Service will run a temporary visitor center out of The Commons meeting space at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16th Street North. Hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10AM to 4PM.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute museum itself keeps separate hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10AM to 5PM (last admission at 4PM), closed Sunday and Monday.

The move comes after the Park Service closed the Gaston Motel visitor center on May 10 to begin renovations. The coffee shop and exhibit space in the motel’s 1968 wing, run by the City of Birmingham, remain open throughout construction.

A.G. Gaston Motel renovations to recreate 1963 War Room and motel room

The project will improve visitor access, add exhibit space and recreate a motel room and the “War Room” as they appeared in 1963.

Built in 1954 by A.G. Gaston to serve Black travelers during segregation, the Gaston Motel became headquarters for “Project C” and a safe haven for civil rights leaders at a pivotal moment in Birmingham’s history. It expanded in 1968 to add a supper club and other amenities.

How to plan your visit to the Birmingham Civil Rights District

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute sits near the Gaston Motel, Kelly Ingram Park and 16th Street Baptist Church. Find hours and entrance fees at bcri.org, and track renovation updates on the Park Service’s construction page.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: (205) 328-9696 | bcri.org | Instagram | Facebook
Address: 520 16th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203
Hours:
- Tuesday–Saturday, 10AM–5PM (last admission 4PM)
- Temporary visitor center: Wednesday–Friday, 10AM–4PM