Selma is located in the state of Alabama and has a lot of culture to offer as well as great sights and interesting destinations. So if you’re planning a trip to Selma, you’ve come to the right place!
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Vacation in Selma
The Civil Rights Movement didn’t start in a classroom or with a law. It started with people. In Selma, Alabama, ordinary citizens took up the cause for racial justice, and their actions changed American forever.
Today, Selma is a vibrant community that honors its legacy while celebrating its present. The city’s rich history and inspiring stories are waiting to be discovered.
Here are just a few of the many reasons to visit Selma:
To walk in the footsteps of history. Selma was the site of some of the most important events of the Civil Rights Movement. Taking a walk through the city, you’ll see where Martin Luther King, Jr. led the historic march from Selma to Montgomery and where Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat. These sites and others are now part of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.
To learn about African American culture. Selma is home to the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, which tells the story of the fight for voting rights through exhibits, films, and interactive displays. The Museum of African American Art features a rotating selection of artwork by local, national, and international artists.
To experience smalltown charm. Selma may be steeped in history, but it’s also a friendly place with a welcoming atmosphere. Stroll down serene treelined streets, grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant, and shop for unique gifts at the arts and crafts fair.
Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or simply want to get away from it all, Selma is the perfect vacation destination. Come and discover all that this charming city has to offer.
Sights in Selma
Selma is nestled in the heart of Alabama’s Black Belt, a region known for its rich soil and AfricanAmerican heritage. The city is situated on the banks of the Alabama River and is home to a number of historic sights and attractions.
The most famous of these is the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, which commemorates the famous civil rights marches that took place here in 1965. The trail spans 54 miles and includes a number of significant landmarks, such as the Edmond Pettus Bridge, where peaceful protesters were savagely attacked by police in what came to be known as “Bloody Sunday.”
Other notable sights in Selma include the National Voting Rights Museum, which tells the story of the struggle for voting rights in the United States; the Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a key meeting point for civil rights activists; and the Selma Interpretive Center, which offers visitors a chance to learn more about the city’s history and Culture.
Whether you’re interested in history, civil rights, or simply want to experience the unique culture of the Black Belt, Selma is well worth a visit.
History of Selma
Selma is a city in Dallas County, in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is the county seat of Dallas County. The city’s population is 20,756 according to 2019 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Selma is located on the banks of the Alabama River in the Black Belt region of south central Alabama and has a rich history involving the Civil Rights Movement.
The first European settlers in the area were French colonists who arrived in 1732 from the colony of Mobile. They settled on the west bank of the Alabama River, at a site called Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville’s Camp d’Arcabel. The French settlers built a fort, which they named Fort Conde de Louis de la Mobile. The fort was abandoned in 1763 after the French lost the Seven Years’ War to the British.
The British settlers who arrived in the area in 1763 established the town of Selma. The name Selma is derived from the Arabic word for “prayer.”, which was in turn derived from the Latin word for “path.” The town was originally settled as a trading post.
In 1820,Selma was Incorporated as a town. The growing town attracted a number of businesses and professionals. By 1825, Selma had a newspaper, a bank, and a number of lawyers and doctors.
The city of Selma was incorporated in 1831.During the 1830s, the city’s population grew rapidly, reaching a peak of 1,500 in 1834.
However, the city began to experience economic difficulties during the 1840s, as the national economy entered a depression. In 1845, the Selma Times was founded. The city’s population declined during the 1850s, reaching a low of 1,000 in 1859.
The American Civil War began in 1861, and Selma was Confederate States ofselonomic importance due to its location on the Alabama River. The Confederate States Naval Shipyard was located in Selma, and the city was also the site of a major Arsenal.
As a result of its importance to the Confederacy, Selma was the target of a Union Army invasion in 1865. On April 2, 1865, Union troops under the command of Major General James H. Wilson entered Selma. The troops began to looting and burning the city.
In the aftermath of the Union victory, Selma was occupied by Union troops from 1865 to 1867. During this time, many former slaves moved into the city.
In 1867, Selma was declared part of the “Second Military District” of the United States, and the city was governed by a military commander.
In 1868, Reconstruction began in Selma, and a biracial government was elected. Blacks were elected to office for the first time in Selma’s history.
However, Reconstruction ended in 1876, and Selma reverted to white rule. Blacks were effectively excluded from the political process and subject to Jim Crow laws.
The city’s black population continued to grow during the early 20th century, and by the 1930s Selma’s black community represented a majority of the city’s residents.
However, blacks were still denied their civil rights, and in 1955, the city gained national attention when a young AfricanAmerican woman, Rosa Parks, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white person.
This event sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted for 382 days and cripples the city’s economy.
The Civil Rights Movement came to Selma in 1965, when Martin Luther King, Jr. and other activists led a march from Selma to Montgomery to protest the treatment of blacks in Selma. The march, which came to be known as “Bloody Sunday”, ended in violence when police attacked the marchers with tear gas and clubs.
News of the violence in Selma spread nationwide, and on March 7, 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr. led a second march from Selma to Montgomery. This time, the march was protected by more than 2,000 Federal troops, and it was successful.
On August 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act was signed into law, making it illegal to discriminate against voters on the basis of race. This law was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement, and it was due in large part to the events that took place in Selma.
In the years since 1965, Selma has continued to struggle with issues of race and poverty. However, the city has also made significant progress, and today it is a vibrant community with a diverse population.
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