16th Street Baptist Church

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16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama

OS grid reference
OS grid reference
Location	Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Address
Country
Language(s)
Denomination	Baptist
Previous denomination
Sui iuris church

The 16th Street Baptist Church is a historic church located in Birmingham, Alabama. It is an important landmark in the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The church was the site of a tragic bombing in 1963 that resulted in the deaths of four African American girls, an event that galvanized the movement and drew national attention to the struggle for civil rights.

History

The 16th Street Baptist Church was founded in 1873 as the First Colored Baptist Church of Birmingham. The current building, designed by African American architect Wallace Rayfield, was completed in 1911. The church quickly became a central meeting place for the African American community in Birmingham and played a significant role in the civil rights activities of the 1950s and 1960s.

Civil Rights Movement

During the 1960s, the church served as a rallying point for civil rights activities. It was a frequent meeting place for leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Fred Shuttlesworth, and Ralph Abernathy. The church's location in downtown Birmingham made it a strategic site for organizing marches and demonstrations.

1963 Bombing

On September 15, 1963, the church was the target of a racially motivated bombing carried out by members of the Ku Klux Klan. The explosion killed four young girls: Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Denise McNair. The bombing shocked the nation and became a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, leading to increased support for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The church in 1884

Historic view of the church

Interior view of the basement exhibition

Legacy

The 16th Street Baptist Church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006. It remains an active place of worship and a symbol of the struggle for civil rights. The church hosts a memorial to the four girls who lost their lives in the bombing and continues to educate visitors about the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

Also see

• Civil Rights Movement
• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Ku Klux Klan
• Birmingham campaign