The bridge’s name became etched in American history when, on March 7, 1965,  Alabama State Troopers and Dallas County sheriff’s deputies routed civil rights marcher’s carrying their grievances to the state capital in Montgomery. Officers attacked the demonstrators with bats, tear gas, and horses, injuring many. The event was later shown on television, which gained the attention of the nation, earning widespread support for their movement and the eventual passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The bridge marks the beginning of the Selma-to-Montgomery National Historic Trail and the U.S. Highway 80 All-American Byway and is considered one of the top ten monuments to freedom. Thousands of visitors come to Selma each year to take part in the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee festival. Through the year, thousands more visit and walk across the bridge as a reminder of their right to vote.

Today, Selma offers many events to commemorate its past history, such as the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee held the first weekend of March, and the Battle of Selma, which is reenacted in April. Selma offers some 1200 historic structures dating back to the 1800’s for tourists to explore and residents to adore. The Queen City truly is a place where history lives!