In January 2018, Georgia Tourism, a division of Georgia Department of Economic Development, announced that Georgia has 11 historic sites located on the new U.S. Civil Rights Trail. A compilation of 14 Southern tourism departments, the U.S. Civil Rights Trail
consists of 130 landmarks, museums, churches, courthouses and memorials that were important to the development of social equality during 1950-1960.
“Georgia has always been a centerpiece of the Civil Rights Movement. As the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Center for Civil and Human Rights, Georgia is flourishing with existing landmarks and museums that immortalize this piece of monumental history,” says Kevin Langston, GDEcD Deputy Commissioner for Tourism.
The 11 sites listed on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail are Albany Civil Rights Institute (Albany), APEX Museum (Atlanta), Dorchester Academy Boys Dormitory (Midway), Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta), Elbert P. Tuttle U.S. Court of Appeals Building (Atlanta), Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home (Atlanta), Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park (Atlanta), Center for Civil and Human Rights (Atlanta), The Carter Center (Atlanta), The King Center (Atlanta), and Shiloh Baptist Church (Albany).
Although not listed on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, but, located within 1.5 hours of Douglas in the Magnolia Midlands Travel Region, is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument Park in Dublin, Georgia. This monument is located on Telfair Street in downtown Dublin and
across the street from First African Baptist Church where a young, 15 year old, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his first public speech in an oratory contest. On his way home, Dr. King was asked to give his seat up and move to the back of the bus. “His journey started
here,” says Jerry Davis, a Dublin city council member. The monument in Dublin features a mural by Georgia artist, Corey Barksdale, audio tour, podium sculpture, and First African Baptist Church Mural.