Memphis to Montgomery-A Study Tour

A group of our 8th grade students recently traveled the Civil Rights Trail from Memphis to Montgomery, Alabama. This hands-on study tour provided students an opportunity to uncover the stories behind many of the historically significant sites at the center of the Civil Rights Movement in person.

Study tours such as this are experiential, helping students relate to their academics on a different level. After the site visits, classmates and faculty were able to discuss what they saw, who they met, and new perspectives they might have gained.

Siblings Olivia and Jack McCullough both agreed their favorite parts of the trip were the visit to the Legacy Museum and the Peace and Justice Memorial. Olivia shared, “The memorial was very eye-opening. I learned a lot about how Memphis and Shelby County were involved and affected.” Jack said, “I first thought going to a museum might be boring. But it was very immersive, and they brought things to life using holograms.”

Important landmarks visited on the trip included the Brown Chapel AME Baptist Church and the Edmund Pettus Bridge, both in Selma, and the Legacy Museum and Peace and Justice Memorial, both in Montgomery.   

Students also toured the Dexter Parsonage, home to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his family during his ministry in Montgomery and visited other culturally significant points in the area such as the riverfront, Court Square and Union Train Station.  They also made a stop at the City of St. Jude Catholic Church for a time of reflection.

In addition to the learning that took place on the tour, there were plenty of opportunities for students to enjoy time together outside of the classroom. Olivia explained, “There was a lot of group bonding on the trip. Especially for me. I am currently in a wheelchair, and everyone was so kind to me on the trip-helping me with anything I needed. My friends even made sure I took my Advil! It was really nice.” Jack agreed, “It was good to learn things in person, but we also had a chance to relax and have fun with our friends at the end of the day.”