Civil Rights Museum

In 1968, the attention of the nation was focused on the Lorraine Motel. It was this year, on April 4th that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and acknowledged leader of the Civil Rights Movement, was assassinated. The aftershock of this event would plunge the Lorraine Motel, a small minority-owned business in the south-end of downtown Memphis, into a long and steep decline.

By 1982, the Lorraine Motel was a foreclosed property. A group of prominent Memphians, concerned that this historic site would be destroyed through continued neglect and indifference, formed the Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation to save the Lorraine.

The Foundation raised $10,000, which brought a short option to buy the Lorraine; however, members of the Foundation were unable to raise the full contract price of $250,000. Fortunately, in December 1982, the Foundation was able to purchase the Lorraine at auction for $144,000. Of that amount, $69,000 came from the fundraising efforts of Foundation members. In addition, $25,000 was donated by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and $10,000 was donated by Lucky Hearts Cosmetics, a business located across the street from the Lorraine. The remaining $50,000 was loaned by Tri-State Bank and secured jointly by AFSCME and Lucky Hearts.

The Foundation continued to lease the Lorraine for a nominal sum to Walter Bailey, its owner. Mr. Bailey continued to operate the motel, while the room occupied by Dr. King was maintained as a shrine and memorial. In time, this one small motel room, in a dilapidated section of Memphis, Tennessee, became one of the most famous memorials in American history. In light of this, the Foundation continued its diligent efforts to save and some how transform the Lorraine, while still maintaining its historic significance.

In the ensuing five years, foundation members concerned themselves with both raising consciousness about this historical site and fundraising. The project steadily gained enthusiasm and support, from grassroots community endorsements, as well as one-time and buy-out grants from national corporations. With vital support from the City of Memphis, Shelby County, and the State of Tennessee, enough funds were raised to create and construct a civil rights center within the Lorraine Motel designed to help visitors better understand the history and lessons of the American Civil Rights Movement.

With their mission accomplished, the Lorraine Civil Rights Foundation held an official groundbreaking in 1987 and on September 28, 1991, the National Civil Rights Museum opened its doors to visitors.

In 2001, the National Civil Rights Museum celebrated its 10th anniversary. With an annual attendance of over 150,000 visitors, the Museum is a tribute to the period in American History known as the Civil Rights Movement.


Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free Time (Mondays): 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays

National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry Street
Memphis, TN 38103

Email: contact@civilrightsmuseum.org
Phone: (901) 521-9699
Fax: (901) 521-9740

For more info visit www.civilrightsmuseum.org