Civil Rights Room

The Civil Rights Collection could be thought of as blooming where it was planted almost half a century ago. The current site of the Main Library is where the city launched a nonviolent protest against segregated lunch counters and other public accomodations over 50 years ago. The exhibit includes a list of "10 rules of conduct" carried by the protesters during the sit-in demonstrations and sits on the counter of a circular table, symbolic of the lunch counters that were popular gathering places in downtown Nashville. The exhibit also displays a timeline of significant local and national events during hte civil rights era and large photographs of dramatic events in this period of Nashville history, such as: parents leading their first-grade children past protestors on September 9, 1957, the day segregation began; a bombing and other violent acts meant to intimidate those who were challenging segregation; a march to the courthouse; and a peaceful confrontation there between Mayor Ben West and black student leaders ,with the mayor expressing his personal belief that "it is wrong and immoral to discriminate." Soon thereafter, at a rally at Fisk University, established in 1866 for those who desired to learn and shared the common experiences of slavery and poverty, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., declared: "I came to Nashville not to bring inspiration, but to gain inspiration from the greatest movement that has taken place in this community."

Admission: Free