16th Street Education and Vistor Center 102 scaled e1789496880469 New 16th Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center now open [PHOTOS] — Ceremony at the opening of the 16th Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

The 16th Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center opened today, Sept. 15, after a moving anniversary commemoration marking a new chapter for one of Birmingham’s most significant landmarks.

The opening comes on the 63rd anniversary of the bombing of the historic church that killed four young girls and injured 22 people.

Here’s a peek inside the new space and what visitors can expect.

A new way to experience Birmingham’s civil rights history

IMG 9283 New 16th Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center now open [PHOTOS] — Front of the 16th Street Baptist Education and Visitor Center. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

The 16th Street Baptist Church broke ground on the 13,000 square-foot Education and Visitor Center in April 2025. Today, they memorialized the tragic event that led to the end of segregation while also looking toward the future with the opening of the center.

“We commemorate that day (September 15, 1963) because we believe that day was pivotal — because we believe that day after that bombing motivated the movement.

It galvanized a particular generation, and they were keen on making the better days of Birmingham better. And they didn’t rest until the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed, and the 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed to make sure that the death of the four girls who lost their lives at the church was not in vain.”
Rev. Arthur Price, Jr. Pastor, 16th Street Baptist Church

According to Rev. Price, the new Education and Visitor Center begins a new chapter in the ministry of 16th Street Baptist Church.

“We are not building a monument to the past, we’re building a bridge to the future.”
Rev. Arthur Price, Jr. Pastor, 16th Street Baptist Church

A space designed to turn history into action

IMG 9277 New 16th Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center now open [PHOTOS] — Rev. Arthur Price, Jr. Pastor of 16th Street Baptist Church. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

One of the main central features of the new visitor center is a bright, flowing two-story “River Wall” in the lobby. Its purpose: To challenge visitors to bring what they’ve learned from history into their own communities.

“The river wall that we have in the lobby of the center challenges people. We don’t just want you to come to the district and get a history lesson. We want you to come to the district, get the history lesson, and be challenged to do something with the history you learn.”
Rev. Arthur Price, Jr. Pastor, 16th Street Baptist Church

Visitors can choose from about 60 commitments on the River Wall — pledges to take what they learned and put it to work in their own communities.

More to explore at 16th Street Baptist Church’s Education and Visitor Center

The River Wall is just one part of the new space. Visitors can also look forward to:

Koinonia Restaurant: Named for the Greek word for fellowship, the restaurant will serve family-style meals for groups of up to 10, creating space for visitors to gather and talk about what they experienced and learned.
Craft room: A creative space where locals and visitors can quilt, sew + make things together.
Meeting + gathering spaces: The center will include meeting rooms, classrooms and spaces for lectures and concerts.

Want to learn more about the 16th Street Education and Visitor Center? Check out their new website and watch the video below about this new transformational space that has opened in our community.