Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum
Savannah Museums > Gilbert Civil Rights Museum
Review
The first interesting thing about this small, but effective, civil rights museum is the location. Back in early 1900s, West Broad Street, as it was known, was a center for the Black community in Savannah with thriving businesses, restaurants, banks, and more.
However, in 1966, an overpass was built to extend I-16 into Downtown Savannah, destroying a bunch of buildings and effectively cutting the neighborhood in two. It may not have been the sole cause that the area fell into decline, but it was way up there on the list.
Today, the stretch of road now called Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, is up and coming with new restaurants, stores, and services that in some ways in anchored by this museum offering a fascinating glimpse of local, state, and national civil rights history. It features photos, interactive exhibits, and films detailing the movement, with highlights of the local leaders who made a difference.
Absolutely worth a visit.