The Legacy Museum

Outstanding! Affordable for everyone. Great History and Museum! The Boat ride is very relaxing yet sad, to be on the river that transported slaves. Friendly customer service. Free shuttle service to all areas. Wheelchair accessible. Kitchen restaurant attached to the main building. Free parking. Photography is not allowed in the main area of museum nor inside the freedom park. Takes about 4/5 hours if you plan to do all exhibits and read the majority of the history. A MUST! 10/10 recommend!! They are adding new features to the legacy series, hotel, fitness area, etc! It’s exciting to see what the outcome will be!!

What an amazing way to kick off Black History Month. They did an AMAZING job with this museum. I spent 3 1/2 hours here and soaked it all in. Truly Truly a job well done 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 You cannot take pics inside! Parking is free and they have shuttles in between here and the other legacy sites.

We had to leave before we were ready because we wanted to visit all three sites. This museum is very well done. One of the best I have visited. Be prepared to take your time to read the exhibits and watch a wide variety of videos and interactive exhibits. There is a lot information to process and reflect on.

This is one of the museums I have liked the most among those I have visited in the U.S. It is a journey through African American history, presented in such a powerful and beautiful way—truly moving and stunning in every sense. I highly recommend it; it is a true work of art.

This museum was so full of information that I became so enthralled with reading that I forgot I needed to be somewhere by a certain time. The stories told will have you so engrossed that you will begin to feel the pain and suffering of the enslaved. It only costs $5 and you get to visit 3 different museums. The gift shop has many books that tell the tells. The prices are very low compared to other places I've been. I would definitely bring my family and friends to see this museum. You can't take pictures inside.

I visit this museum every year when I travel to Montgomery. The sadness of the horrible slavery history of the US is permeated with positivity for peace and justice. Four separate video venues address lynching, and other aspects of slavery. The interactive exhibits, the lifelike encounters with the personal stories take slavery from numbers to real life. The tribute to people who were mistreated is free of angst and revenge, focused on a tribute to those who suffered and a message of future hope. Come and experience this museum with other venues of the Legacy accessible by free shuttle with wheel chair lift and tie downs. The gift shop offers some merchandise, and mostly books for learners of all ages.

Inspiring, informative, a must see. Give yourself plenty of time to peruse and let the experience wash over you. We were fortunate to arrive when they opened so really able to take our time and learn more about our history as a country.

This by far is one of the best museums I’ve been to! The amount of detail & depictions. I went at a great time. I recommend getting all available options to explore because it’s worth it & you could spend half a day there easily.

A lot of information and a bit overwhelming but AmeriKKKas history is just that! It's a shame that we need these museums but they're necessary. The staff was kind, the museum was immaculate and everybody was respectful of the space allotted. So many sections and displays from lynching, the trans Atlantic Slave Trade, prison industrial complex, etc.. Beautiful but heart breaking. The restroom was clean, the gift shop was a beautiful culmination of Black books, clothing and art. Photos weren't allowed.

I recently had the chance to visit the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, thanks to my job, and it was a truly unforgettable experience. The exhibits were both heartbreaking and profound, presenting the history of enslavement, segregation, and the ongoing fight for civil rights in a way that was deeply moving and immersive. One of the things I appreciated most was that photos weren't allowed inside, encouraging us to be fully present and to absorb the impact of each display without distraction. It was clear that no expense was spared in bringing this history to life--every detail was meticulously crafted to create an impactful, emotional experience. The Legacy Museum doesn't shy away from difficult truths, and that's what makes it so powerful. I'm grateful to my job for sponsoring this visit, as it gave me the chance to engage with history in a way that was both educational and profoundly personal. I'd highly recommend this museum to anyone looking to understand America's past and its continued influence on our society.

We are thankful that while staying at the Trilogy Hotel within walking distance, we were advised about this amazing Museum. I am speechless and can't find the words to describe our experience, but, it was lifechanging and like nothing we have ever experienced. We been to other great museums but none spoke to us like this one and none brought us to tears like this one. Everything was done extremely well and put together very well. We were at awe! We learned more than we ever imagined and our hearts broke at the same time as we gave honor for every enslaved person who endured such unspeakable and inhumane treatment. The stories were brought to life and made me feel deeply... Heartfelt thanks for this lesson, experience and opportunity to be face the truth of the real history. The free transportation bus to the other installations/project sites was very helpful and very convenient. Each location left us speechless and educated and heartbroken yet a very necessary experience for everyone. It would likely be hard for small children and some younger youth to go through this experience. While it was all very heartbreaking, it was also very heartwarming to be reminded of the strength and will to live... The Legacy Museum price was very nominal which was very surprising! What a gift to make it affordable for every single person. The gift shop is very nice and a great way to give back and to help the project. Bathrooms were very clean and the whole facility is simply amazing architecture! All of the staff were very professional and very helpful! The onsite restaurant was amazing too! Everything was very fresh, affordable, and very good! Service was great and the tables were very clean! The collard greens were amazing, as were the mac and cheese, chicken and all the food! Only disappointment was apparently the menu changes each day so when I went back the next day for more greens and wings, they weren't on the menu that day. Oh, the baked chicken was dry and they were kind enough to let me exchange it for fried chicken. The manager was especially very nice. Overall, it was a very nice touch to compliment the Museum!

I was stunned at the high quality - the information, the architecture, the art - of every aspect of this museum. It is even more impressive, given the setting in Montgomery, Alabama. The surrounding community appears to be similar to what I experienced in the early 1960s. Montgomery appears impoverished and stopped in another era. The museum is a must-see for all Americans. I will be checking whether 60 minutes, CNN, 20-20 have covered these resources. I highly recommend that EVERY American see these Legacy sites and exhibits. I was educated today, found many new artists whose work I want to follow, and am sure that unless we recognize the impact of our history, America will remain stuck in its history. I kept trying to find out where the initial endowment to fund these Montgomery sites was started. It is hard to tell. I fear that major donors were afraid of backlash and, therefore, do not take credit for their commitment. Whoever funded this - their money was well spent. Thank you.

This museum is eye-opening, heart-breaking and thought-provoking. It's designed so beautifully. So many of the displays, artwork, and the layout is good. As soon as you enter you are thrown into the heartbreak, despair and reality of slavery in America. The tour continues through time and eventually brings us to current events of injustice. Regardless of race and ethnicity, please take time to visit. The cost is less than a movie ticket. It can be a bit much for young kids and it can bring out a number of emotions. But it's worth the experience.

Prepare for an experience unlike any other. I have had the opportunity to visit here on multiple occasions. Each trip has been different. The museum is located on a former slave site. The tour takes you on an emotional journey with visuals of historic context of institutional slavery of Africans to the transformation of mass incarceration in America. There are several exhibits, videos, artist expressions, audio and factual stories on display. Highlights includes the transatlantic slave trade, exploitation of labor, the American Civil War, lynching, the civil rights movement, white supremacy and institutional incarceration. An experience I will never forget and plan to share with others.

When people speak of this museum you get a theme from people, that this museum will move you. Whether it be to tears or not is up to you. If museums are not your thing, look at this as an educational opportunity. Teach yourself the history that you need to know and not what you want to know. There is a difference there. The Legacy is more than just a building filled with history, it is an institution in the city. There are parts to this institution that are spread out throughout the city, but they all tie back to one another. The Legacy is definitely an eye opening museum to see, and if you have the means should be seen in conjunction with the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. I feel like this museum should be a mandatory see if you step foot into the state of Alabama. Whoever the curator of this museum was/currently is should be consulted to update history/social studies textbooks. I feel like I'm on a soapbox and need to step down and speak of the experience now. There is a lot to take in here, if you have the time make sure that you get a band that will allow you reentry into the building. Regardless if you intend to or not, even if you go outside to go across the street to the park portion (and soon to be sculpture park), get the band to reenter. Take your time to read as much (or little) as possible. The historic information can be heavy to take in all at once and can definitely weigh on you for the remainder of your day. Be respectful of the rules of house and your fellow museum goer. Biggest rule of house that you must follow is no photos or videos. Some just social rules, respect personal space, don't encroach on someone's space if they are reading or taking in a picture. Make sure you go into every room, even it you are not able to take in the whole room. Make sure you are aware of your presence in the building and it is quite ok that move along before finishing an area. I did just that where they had projections in the cells. When I got to the one cell, I couldn't let it finish, I had to move along because it got me and I could feel the tears welling up. I want to go more into the museum, but there is so much to go over that I would easily be over the character limit for a Yelp review. Just to reiterate, this is a must visit museum, you will get emotional, you do not need to go at a pace your a not comfortable with. You are also allowed to skip a piece of the museum, it is completely alright to do just that. On the way out of the museum you can hit up a small restaurant or the gift shop. Each are a great little spot to decompress. Or you can go outside to see the park. Location of this museum is a short walk from the downtown area and is connected on many levels.

It is an EXCELLENT display of African American history! It' takes you on a visual,, educational and emotional journey of our story and the trials and obstacles that we faced from the beginning...

Take a full day. Each room is a history class lesson. I love the interactive AI experiences in the jails and in the plantation rooms. So much to learn. So much to explore and see. Very emotional however .

Wow! Is mostly all I can really say. The artistic interpretation of the struggle of my race is immaculate. Although, thought provoking and heart wrenching at times, it is definitely a MUST SEE for all. For me, it connected some personal misguided thoughts and added clarity to some of my current views and understanding. I salute the Equal Justice Initiative for their help in bringing me closer to a clearer understanding of American history. Thanks to the West Jefferson chapter of the SCLC for this sponsored trip in celebration of Juneteenth!

Incredible museum. Everyone living in America, and honestly visiting who wants to understand what we are as a nation, needs to visit this museum. It's beautifully created. It's informative and interactive, the latter without being kitschy.

Amazing experience; memorable, disturbing and reassuring all in one. A hard truth that must be embraced ti celebrate the perseverance of those that built the country.

I can't stop raving about this museum. It was such an eye opening experience and it superseded any book or class I could've taken. The curation was in depth, gut-wrenching, and very informative. It will be very hard to leave this museum in the same head space in which you came. I will never forget this experience. .

It's a narrative museum that takes you through a dark and painful period in American history starting from the transatlantic slave trade to mass incarceration. It uses all kinds of visual mediums and technology to narrate this fully immersive journey. The visualizations were powerful from the very beginning. The hallway leading to the slave trade had sounds of crashing waves, with 200 perfectly sculpted faces (by Ghanaian sculptor Kwame Akoto-Bamfo) of Africans in bondage on the sandy ocean floor. These are the ones who didn't make it across the Atlantic Ocean. It's estimated that 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped/captured and shipped like commodities to the Americas (and other countries). Only 10.7 million got to their destination. You start feeling all kinds of emotions that such a thing could ever happen. But, this is just the beginning of the journey, and there is so much more to see and learn. There are maps showing the many ports of entry for each country. It's more of an in depth historical study with facts and statistics that is absolutely mind blowing. There are holographic characters in holding cells made of the brick that you see in the old buildings all over Montgomery. The museum was built on a warehouse site where enslaved people were sold. The front of the cell is motion activated. The ghost like character appears and talks about their captivity, or missing family member. Some of them sing & weep. It's like a spirit is talking to you. There's a Community Soil Collection Project. Soil is being gathered at lynching sites all over America. It's an ongoing project. The jars of soil bear the names of the victims. The collection of jars are shown in a haunting wall display in the museum. I could go on and on. There are timelines of every relevant event through history, as well as ads in newspapers of enslaved family members trying to find other enslaved members. These families were torn apart. Something else that struck me hard were the store owner signs. Most said "No Blacks Allowed", but there were also others that said, "No Spanish Speaking", "No Mexicans", "No Puerto Ricans", and so forth. My mother told me there was discrimination against Puerto Ricans when she first emigrated to the Bronx back in the 1930's. It was an eye opening experience to see it engraved in black and white. I wish I could comment on everything. I know I'm leaving out more important facts, but you just need to see it for yourself. It's a very well put together museum. There are also quite a bit of art and literature throughout. The civil rights heroes are well represented. It took us a little over 3 hours to go through it all. I still feel like I didn't get to see everything, and definitely needs to be revisited. They say it takes 3-5 hours. If you need to go to lunch, they will give you a wrist band so that you can re-enter. There's a shuttle that will take you to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. I believe it runs every 5 minutes. You don't need to visit the museum and the memorial in the same day. You can save one of the tickets for another day. This is a must see museum, and so worth spending half a day. It was the highlight of my trip.

A must see for anyone interested in the history of civil rights and slavery in America. All sites meticulously planned and executed. Will definitely be back!

As my husband aptly commented, this museum is as impactful and important as the holocaust museum in DC. More so in that many Americans (and I include myself in this) received a watered down, sanitized version of our nation's troubled history of atrocities. As a first time visitor to the southern states, it was important that our trip included Black American history. The Legacy Museum takes visitors through this history, from the TransAtlantic Slave Trade through modern day oppression. The history is related via written displays, videos and interactive displays. The $5 admission fee is unbelievably low, but reduces the economic barrier for folks to visit. Admission also includes the powerful memorial to the victims of racial lynchings. Not only should you visit if you are anywhere near Montgomery; it's worth scheduling a trip to visit. It is a powerful and must-visit experience.

This museum was one of the most influential and informative ones that I have ever been to. It captured the essence of the past and puts you back into the mindset of how it was during the slavery, civil rights and plain out injustice of America. Make sure you are ready for this emotional journey. It can take you an hour to like 3 hours just to grasp everything!!

A must do for any visit to Montgomery. I was only driving through and wanted to kill an hour or two max in Montgomery. I ended up spending 4 hours at the Legacy Museum alone before visiting all the other spots in Montgomery. This is a very well-done and moving experience. Any visit will make you certainly reflect and it will be a very hard/emotional day. However, I highly recommend the Legacy Museum and put it at a similar level to the Holocaust Museum in DC.

EJI has done a great thing by having these three locations to give us a great opportunity to gain knowledge. It's only $5 and you get access to all three locations! They even have a shuttle. Great way to spend a few hours learning about Black history. I would recommend

This is such a wonderful museum, possibly the best I've ever been to. It's raw and at times hard to experience, but also worth it. The staff is great at helping. This is a must see for all Americans because they're not hiding anything truths here. They also continue to expand so worth going again.

One of the best museums I've ever visited. Couldn't decide if it was an American History, Modern Art, or Civic museum. It is only reason I'd return to this city again would be to do the museum justice (and that's it). It was emotional, tragically beautiful, and informative. The artistry and design was modern and bold. The installations featured were high-tech and the painful narratives were creatively told. The museum's architecture decisions just solidified even more how contemporarily real these racial problems are. It's not a history museum; instead it honors its namesake well. A U.S.A must visit for history buffs, art aficionados, and anyone interested in human rights. A must visit for any American citizen to understand the human exploitation from which our country was built.

50 Stars is what this museum deserves and more!!!!! This place is not to be confused for the memorial. This is the AMAZING museum and they also have an equally amazing memorial nearby. I agree with the reviews where I think every American needs to come here and to give yourself at least 2 hours to walk through. The displays from the moment you start the museum, are so compelling and really take you through the journey of injustice. Breaks your heart and gives you clear understanding at the same time. Here are a couple of quotes that I really liked from Bryan Stevenson (the lawyer who put together the museum and memorial with his awesome team): "the sound of suffering and misery will push you to do things that otherwise you could never do. It's in these spaces, that can motivate us." "there is a need for cultural movement that gets us to remember so we can recover and re-claim."

It's great to learn and not hide from our history, but it's hard to believe our fellow human beings could be such savage monsters. At least museums like this show us the truth in hopes that future generations won't repeat it & will learn that the masses can be swayed to support evil ideologies that make no logical sense.

Powerful, painful and beautiful. This is an absolute must do experience. My family has not stopped talking about everything we took in.

Upon arriving inside the museum, I was amazed that the street parking was free. The museum has eye catching painting outside before entering. The staff are all friendly and nice inside the museum. For the price of the museum and its offering, I would say that this museum is almost better than the ones I visited in Washington DC. I am so glad I decided to visit this museum because it was amazing. I learned so much beginning from the African Slave Trade to today history. I highly recommend if your in Montgomery to visit this museum it is mind blowing. The interactive technology in the museum and how big it is inside. Definitely visit when you have well enough time to soak in everything this museum has to offer. Unfortunately, I visited close to closing time and didn't have the opportunity to visit the memorial. The nice staff member told me I can always come back and show my pass to visit the memorial. He told me it doesn't expire. I thought that very good. You cannot beat the price of this museum and it included the memorial. I recommend this museum to EVERYONE. Yes it is very emotional ,but you wont regret it.

This museum is amazing. This is what a museum should be like. If I could give it 10 stars I would. They have a free parking lot and there is also free street parking available. Outside of the Museum you will find a memorial to victims of lynching. As the name says, it starts with slavery and works it way through cicil rights, to modern day Black issues such as the justice system. I was surprised that admission was only $5. The only downside to the museum is that they do not allow pictures and there are a lot of staff in the exhibit area enforcing the no picture rule. Masks are also required while inside. The exhibits here are ground breaking. They have a hologram of some slaves in a pen that is very realistic. I really felt them. Another notable exhibit is the prison one, where you are a visitor and pick up a phone to talk to a video of an inmate that was wrongly condemned, unfairly sentenced, or unjustly treated. It is so realistic that it is scary. You will see a mock test that Black had to take to vote. I failed it by the way. The museum touches on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Domestic Slave Trade, Reconstruction, Lynchings, codified racial segregation, Montgomery Bus Boycott, segregation, and over-incarceration in the 20th century. A unique exhibit in the museum is the over 800 jars of soil collected from lynching sites as part of the Community Remembrance Project. The museum is decent sized and has three theaters that play various movies. It took about 2 hours to go through the museum and I was throughly impressed. You end your self guided tour with the Reflection Space. A room that has pictures of and honors hundreds of people who worked throughout their lives to challenge racial injustice. It is a very soothing space and has some nice smooth music playing. Stevie Wonder's "They Won't Go When I Go" was playing while I was there. The last exhibit is an art gallery featuring art by Black artist with a Black theme. There is some powerful art here. As if it could not get any better, you admission includes access to The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. It is about 5 minutes away and they offer a shuttle service from the museum. You can also drive. There is a decent amount of parking available over there. I found that it was a lot easier to drive, so that is what I did. This museum is not only inspirational. It is empowering. It is hands down one of the best museums that I have visited. I cannot think of anyway to make this museum any better. This is a must visit when you are in Montgomery. I was glad that I was able to experience this museum and it has set the bar high for any and all that I visit from this point forward.

This was an experience that I weep I didn't have sooner. The artwork, the information, the ambience... everything was so specific and well placed. The staff are so welcoming and helpful for starters. My suggestion is go a little early so you aren't rushed and can take it all in. There is so much information and spotlighting of people and events that aren't the "popular" well known people or stories. I learned so much that I had never heard of from school. I took in a lot of the information and videos in the first half so that I could walk through the easy sights and quick reads through the end. They have these theater rooms specified to certain things that go in depth and are excellent ways to get perspective. Take the family - from young to old. The babies need to know history and understand why the luxuries we afford today are not to be taken for granted. I'm so interested in hearing what my elders remember about these things. They can always shed some personal insight from how they experienced these events and times that will never be told in a book. No pictures are allowed in the main museum but there is an adjacent exhibit they do allow photographs. It's all a short distance and included in your admission. They even have a shuttle service or you can drive. Also there's a cafe and the food smelled amazing, however we ate on the drive so we didn't get any food but next time we'll be sure to schedule lunch and a full day so that we can see the other location and be able to take photos for the memory book. Again I beg us to make museums popular again and take the younger generations to them wherever they are so we can keep our sense of pride and understand where we all came from so we can effectively shape where we are going.

Don't go in a hurry, absorbing the story is life changing. Take time to get to know the depths of the lived experience of the people featured. I was breathless being introduced to the crimes against a fellow human. The stories about lynching need shared to all. The country owes so much to the skills and talents. The story only begins when you walk out. Study! Learn! Never again suppress! In my humble experience I want to apologize from all my soul.

This is a must visit in the world of Civil Rights. First, the museum has a private, free parking lot (Even though I was with a group, this is a plus And admission is only $5 - I wonder why). This is also included to go see The National Memorial for Peace and Justice 5 minutes away. You also must wear a mask while you are in the museum. The museum is an old cotton warehouse where many slaves were forced into labor. You are given a glimpse of this through the holographic storytellers who present their history through the bars of closet-like cells.There are no photos and videos allowed inside the museum. The museum does an excellent job of capturing the history of African Americans beginning with the slave trade, through Jim Crow, and into Mass Incarceration. I can not explain the feelings I had walking through this museum. I was overcome. It showed how Blacks had to take a test to vote- how many jelly beans in this jar? how many stars are there in the sky? Seriously. Of course they failed. There are jars of soil (over 800 jars collected as part of the Community Remembrance Project) from different U.S. lynching sites. There is a mass incarceration and relatable stories to the African American people. They also have an area where you can sit down and talk to prisoners who are behind bars (as if its a holograph) and they tell their story and just how awful the Alabama system is. I had so many tears that were difficult hold back. There is also a memorial to victims of lynching outside the museum. It also has three theatres that have movies that you must sit down and watch. We spent less than two hours going through and I really needed more time (it is so moving; there are no words. The pain I was feeling was unbearable. I felt gutted. Stevie Wonder's "They Won't Go When I Go" plays in a room as you ponder the tragedy of the African-American history. This is a must go to. Beyond words.

An absolute must for anyone and everyone. The three sites are connected by an air conditioned shuttle bus which runs in a very timely manner. The museum and each of the other sights are so moving, it's hard to believe all this happened right here in the USA. Ample shade and docents all around the experiences to help or to explain. Again well worth it.

This's A place where everyone of color and everyone that believes that the things that's written and not written about slavery should visit . If it's any doubt that the most inhuman thing that could happen to A human being could happen this's the place that you can see it first hand . It will forever change your life .

After bicycling 52 miles in the Selma 55 Ride - February 22, 2020 to honor heroes of the civil rights era on the 55th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery, my cycling friends and I visited many historic places. If you only have time to visit one, this is a must-see. The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration is a powerful, beautiful, and gut wrenching tribute to all the innocent Black people torn apart from their families, violated, tortured, sold, enslaved, and killed simply for the color of their skin. Every person regardless of race or background should visit this museum. Out of respect, no photography is allowed inside the museum, and people are asked to silence their cell phones. This place is sacred, and the staff are wonderful. One of the most impactful exhibits involves sensor-activated holograms with slaves sharing their stories (you get to see and hear them) as you look into their holding cells. I would suggest buying your tickets online since there are no tickets for sale in the museum (there is a ticket booth down the street as well). Tickets when we visited were $8 for adults, $5 for students or senior citizens, and free for children 6 and under. Metered parking is available on the street, and there is no charge for meters on the weekend. Lines can get very long getting in the door as this is an extremely popular museum that has only been open since 2018. There is so much to see, hear, and experience in the Legacy Museum that you should allow a minimum of 2-3 hours. Even then, it's worth a return visit since your brain and heart will be overloaded with all the powerful exhibits. In the case of slavery and today's injustices, I can't comprehend how ignorance has caused (and continues to cause) such devastation for wonderful, talented people. It's heartbreaking that any group of people would deem themselves superior to another then systematically destroy what is most important to the innocent people they work to dominate and control.... As with any injustice, this museum shows that is important to tell the story including revealing past false narratives in order to prevent history from repeating itself, and also to make right the wrongs that have been done. I am appalled at how long injustices have been allowed and even encouraged throughout history. Thank you to this important museum for its powerful education.

Everything except the soul food I still don't understand how I keep getting food poisoning . The kitchen must be full of people that don't wanna be there ...

One of the best parts of Montgomery by far. I was so glad to see this kind of education taking place in a city that caused so much irreversible pain. As someone who is bi-racial Black it was definitely painful to go through. You know the stories. You've experienced racism to some degree in your lifetime to varying degrees. How anyone could go here and not see everything that is wrong with America is beyond me. I was glad to see some many, visibly, different people going through, reading, viewing, and learning. I went through once alone and it was extremely emotional. I went through again with my Husband a few days later. We speak openly about these topics as an interracial couple anyways. Nonetheless, it brought up a lot of talking points for us that we both enjoyed. As someone who works in the DEI space this education and information matters. Racism doesn't stop or start at yelling the N-word. Racism is covert, it's sinister, it's in almost every system and structure of this country. By learning, we can unlearn.

Beautiful and great renovation of the location. Very historic location. This museum of African American Slavery and the details was explained well. All the exhibits were heart felt. So many emotions going through this museum. I recommend at least 2 days to get the full experience.

I cannot recommend this museum enough. We spent 3.5 hours here and it still wasn't enough time to take it all in. This museum, brought to you by the Equal Justice Initiative, is an in-depth journey from slavery to mass incarceration and it will leave you gutted. The video, graphics, and interactive portions are highly informative and overwhelming in the fact that you are confronting the truth of what our country was founded upon, and what it continues to inflict upon Black men, women, and children. The site itself exists on an old cotton warehouse where enslaved people were imprisoned and worse. You are given a glimpse of this through the holographic storytellers who present their history through the bars of closet-like cells. Another highly impactful part for me was sitting across from incarcerated individuals (albeit on a video), but when you pick up the phone they pick theirs up and tell you their story as well. It's as if they are actually sitting in front of you. It's hard to put in a review just how deeply moving, gut wrenching, and important this place is. You must visit. No photos or video are allowed inside, and you need to make an appointment before visiting.

It is hard to find words to describe this experience. I go every year and take new people. This year, we had 14 people in our group. From the moment you enter the museum, you are immersed in the tragedy and triumph of the African-American experience. Brian Stevenson is a genius, who enlisted the quintessential artists to bring these exhibits to life. Every year, I have a new awakening. The new Sculpture Garden is beautiful and the boat ride is spiritually fulfilling. My only negative is the 6 minute walk down a series of ramps to get to the boat. I, and some in my group, have mobility issues. It was not handicapped accessible. We had to dump our water and make that trip in terrible heat. It would help to have a motorized scooter or carrier and to let patrons know when they buy tickets, they can bring metal water containers, but not plastic. They do have a few scooters once you reach the garden. The older staff at the garden were respectful and very helpful. Some of the younger staff need to be mindful of how to greet patrons. Say "Hello, welcome.." before barking orders and please don't refer to senior women as "you guys" over and over. My suggestions in no way diminish the appreciation of the experience. I bought several books to share when I get home. Next year, I hope to bring a larger group. Thank you, Mr. Stevenson.

First, no photos allowed inside. I can't describe how well done this critically acclaimed museum is. It uses art and sculpture, light and shadow, as well as sound. You begin learning about the initial journeys that began the chattel slave trade. You learn how the US utilized human cargo to perpetuate wealth. How families were torn apart. You then move into reconstruction, Jim Crowe, the great migration, segregation, lynching. There is a moving display of jars of dirt preserved from lynching sites, which can be read about on the internet on the museum's website, or the EJI website. You move on into mass incarceration and how that relates to the control of black people. The ending consists of a beautiful, moving art gallery. I was particularly taken with a piece that linked chattel slavery to incarceration. It's the only time I truly wished I could take a photo to share, reflect, and remember. The whole museum is full of quotes, art, photos. There are multiple movie theaters focusing on various subjects. I am extremely educated in civil rights/black history, so I didn't learn anything new, but it still evoked tears. I will also say, for the average person this is necessary. It is so cohesive, beautiful, poignant. This museum has done it better than any other.

One of the most impactful & humbling times of my life. Highly recommend to plan at least one one full day or two half days to read, experience and witness a very painful history of our country and behavior of human beings toward one another. This is just not any other museum that can be verbose and mind numbing as you go along. You will be gripped by the narrative and you will be captivated by the videos and artistic renditions of what millions of people went through as they were taken from their homeland. As others have commented, this is a must-see.

Small but powerful museum located in Montgomery. $5.00 admission includes the museum and memorial. There is a restaurant located on site Pannie -George's but is was closed so we didn't check it out. Please note no drinks or photos are allowed in the museum. If you want to leave and get lunch get a wristband to be allowed re entry.

It's a little remarkable this museum didn't collapse under the weight of both its massive ambition as well as its deeply sobering content. And now that I've experienced it, I don't feel uncomfortable saying that it's clear that some compromises had to be made along the way. But what they were able to accomplish is still pretty incredible. The eye-popping displays aim to toe the line in providing showy, emotion-laden experiences amid a backdrop of a staggering amount of detail and text. You get history summaries alongside oral accounts, alongside conceptual art. They try to draw lines from slavery to Jim Crow to contemporary injustices. The most important piece, really, is that this museum fills a gaping void in both regional and national attention to history. Our neglect of attention to endemic racism has left us with a legacy of Confederate monuments, petty fights over textbooks, and not enough of an actual reckoning about how much racist practices have set the course of the country's history. The grand ambitions of this museum are only grand because of that neglect. I'm pleased to see them telling these stories at all. The bar has been low, but the Legacy Museum raises the level of discourse and raises those expectations for a better understanding of our history and our contemporary society.

Of the museums on African American history and civil rights I've been to (which is quite a few at this point), this was the one with the most specific angle, which is both its strength and its weakness. On one hand, it is very clear and specific in laying out historical events and atrocities, and on the other, it makes some dubious statements about the present and is somewhat blinkered in its perspective. Pictures weren't allowed inside, but it was a very multimedia experience. They overestimated the amount of time it would take to get through; for me it was probably a little more than an hour, but if you really stopped and read every detail it certainly could be a while longer. This place was requiring masks at a point at which that was fairly uncommon (at least they provided some). They also had substantial security, with metal detectors at the entrance and guards standing in every room. Given how close some of the history is, one can hardly blame them for being careful in that respect. A museum ticket also includes admission to the nearby memorial (reviewed separately) and a shuttle bus there (there were many shuttle buses, and I got a bit of a tour of the town on my drive from an enthusiastic driver). Tickets were not much; it was a good deal, though the idea of paying for a memorial seems questionable to me. A new building was under construction nearby, and that is to say nothing of the several other museums and civil rights sites nearby; apparently this brand of tourism is booming. For my part, it was a worthwhile stop that certainly had an impact.

Every American should go here at least once. They offer an unblinking look at truths that many people have no knowledge about. Have an open mind. Go. Educate yourself. Be prepared for an emotional but rewarding journey. You won't be sorry.

This tour was epic, it depicts the pain and the pride of America's history from slavery to national heroes. Viewing the pain and struggles our ancestors endured truly make one thankful for this life... we have overcome but still have seemingly a ways to go. If you haven't visited this one it's a must....

The museum is located on a site where enslaved people were actually warehoused. It brilliantly and powerfully exhibits the evolution of slavery. The first display sets a sobering tone with replicas of slave pens showing holographic like images giving firsthand accounts of enslaved people. Each display in the museum is very informative. The imagery throughout pulls you deeper and deeper into the horrors and brutality of America's past. It gives you a detailed look into lynchings, segregation, mass incarcerations done in the name of the "drug war" and the Jim Crow south. If you're in Montgomery it's not to be missed. Currently they have COVID-19 protocols in place; mandatory masks and gloves and temperature checks upon entry. (Closed on Tuesdays. No photo or videos allowed inside).

We visited The Legacy yesterday and can't stop talking about all we learned. We tour a lot of museums! (My husband is a retired Historian from the National Park Service.) This museum brought injustice to life using numerous 1st person accounts, photos, and art. It raised our consciousness to be more enlightened and kind. Everyone needs to visit this museum! Positive change only happens through education. We didn't try the restaurant but other patrons said the catfish and chicken reminded them of their Grandma's cooking. Yum!

Absolutely one of the best museums in our nation. The installations and sculptures are engaging, artistically poignant and informative- a true masterpiece and an essential stop in Montgomery AL.

One of the finest museums I've ever visited in the world right in the heart of Montgomery Alabama. Our group visited last fall during a trip to experience all of the venues of the Civil Rights movement. From the moment you enter the first room you are transformed back to the experience of what it was like to be a slave transported against your will from your home country in Africa to the unknown, very moving experience and shares the history of the slave trade and their experiences. The artist who created the slave heads are so realistic it appears the slaves are staring at you piercing through your soul. Then you learn about voting rights, lynching, children who are incarcerated to our current system. Then there's the room playing Stevie Wonder's "They Won't Go When I Go" you will fall to your knees in this room after experiencing all of our tragic African-American history. They to have a separate section of the museum dedicated to art there were Gee's Bend quilts and variety of artists who shared their experiences through art. Several members of our group were so moved broke down in tears and it is truly an experience to never forget. I've since told variety of people traveling to Montgomery to experience The Legacy Museum is a must!

If you are ever able to visit the EJI's Museum & Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama - do it. The self-guided tour of The Legacy Museum with all of the reading, videos, and kiosks, typically takes about two hours - we were there for almost four and still didn't experience the full measure of what this site offers. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is truly sacred. The symbolism and the reality is a hard hard truth. The research, time and effort is evident in the curation of the story the museum and memorial tells. Y'all, I cried, contemplated, reflected, and even at times laughed at the irony of this nation, but most of all I mourned. I mourned for my ancestors (known and unknown), for the terror and pain that we have and continue to endure, I mourned for all the lives lost to the genocide that was chattel slavery, the lives that were kidnapped, trafficked, bought, sold, broken, violated, brutalized, maimed, lynched, desecrated, and so much more in the name and psychosis of White supremacy. I'm still processing - feeling heavy, but hopeful. (Review from my wife)*