Reviewed by: Patience Itson
Birmingham Civil Rights District glows with free night art walk
Reading time: 3 minutes
Have you walked around the Birmingham Civil Rights District lately? You may have noticed some interesting historic artifacts you don’t see much these days.
Items like a Birmingham News/Birmingham Post Herald newspaper box placed in the center of Kelly Ingram Park or an actual phone booth near the entrance of the A.G Gaston Motel.
Those two relics and other pop culture objects are part of a special free public art installation called The Sacred Ordinary that was launched last week by 1504, a local narrative studio, in partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association.
After dark art installation
The Sacred Ordinary, which was inspired by legendary local artist Joe Minter, is an after dark self-guided walk through the Birmingham Civil Rights District. It is open nightly till December 13th, between 5PM till 8PM.
You’ll stop at each glowing artifact and get a quiet moment to reflect.
How The Sacred Ordinary walking tour works
If you are interested in experiencing The Sacred Ordinary installation, begin by parking near the Four Spirits statues at Kelly Ingram Park across from 16th Street Baptist Church.
When you are at that corner, on your cell phone, text the word “HERE” to 205-784-2321.
You will then follow instructions that will guide you to the public art installations that are placed around the district. The interactive walk and narration via your phone takes about 30 minutes to complete.
The guided tour takes you to each illuminated artifact. It is not a museum-like history lesson. It is a solemn journey at night, to places within the District, that provides the participant a moment to learn, reflect and remember our community’s past and think about the future.
The walking tour takes you to following spots:
- Kelly Ingram Park (Start the tour by texting the word “HERE” to 205-784-2321)
- Empty lot behind 16th Street Baptist Church
- St. Paul United Methodist Church
- A.G. Gaston Motel entrance
One of the most memorable and powerful spots along the trail is at the St. Paul United Methodist Church. There is a blue mailbox on the corner of 6th Avenue. Underneath it is an early 1960s card that was used to ask movement volunteers to sign a pledge to nonviolence and daily meditation and prayer.
Discussion: Beyond signage – The Future of the Birmingham Civil Rights District
Another one of the objectives of The Sacred Ordinary is to challenge us through art and stories to discover ways to make places like the Civil Rights District a shared civic responsibility.
On Monday, November 9, 2026, 5:30PM at the new 16th Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center, there is going to be a free panel discussion about doing just that — exploring the future of the Birmingham Civil Rights District.
