Walk Where Civil Rights History Was Made
Step into the places that defined the Civil Rights Movement and consider how Scripture, faith, justice, courage, and the church intersected during one of the most crucial chapters in American history.
Through visits to museums, churches, memorials, and historic sites in cities such as Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham, and Memphis, your understanding of the people, events, and convictions that transformed the nation will be stretched. You will consider how race relations continue to impact America today and how Scripture calls God's people to pursue justice and reconciliation.
Offered every other fall (even years) through the Department of History and Government, this course helps students move beyond the pages of history and encounter the Civil Rights Movement in the places where it unfolded.
What Will I Learn on the Civil Rights Tour?
The Civil Rights Tour is the culmination of an eight-week, three-credit course that examines civil rights and race relations in America from a biblical worldview. Beginning in the colonial era and continuing through the present day, students study the historical, theological, cultural, and social issues that have defined America’s ongoing story.
As you visit key sites in cities across the South, your classroom learning will come to life. You’ll engage with the places, people, and events that defined the Civil Rights Movement and continue to impact conversations about race, justice, and reconciliation today.
Throughout the course and tour, you will:
- Build a deeper understanding of the theological and historical issues surrounding civil rights and race relations in America.
- Learn to evaluate history, culture, and current issues through a biblical worldview.
- Engage in lectures, discussions, and dialogue with faculty and classmates.
- Experience Southern hospitality and delicious food.
What Civil Rights Sites Will We Visit?
The Civil Rights Tour connects classroom learning with the places where history unfolded. You will visit museums, churches, memorials, and historic landmarks that illuminate America’s long and complex history of civil rights and race relations.
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Lorraine Motel and National Civil Rights Museum
In Memphis, you will visit the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, and tour the National Civil Rights Museum.
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16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, and the Birmingham Civil Rights District
In Birmingham, you will visit 16th Street Baptist Church, the site of the 1963 bombing that killed four young girls, and Kelly Ingram Park, where many demonstrators were arrested while standing for their constitutional rights. Depending on the final itinerary, you may also visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
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Edmund Pettus Bridge and Voting Rights History
In Selma, you will walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of “Bloody Sunday,” where marchers faced violent opposition as they advocated for voting rights. The itinerary may also include a visit to the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute.
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National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Legacy Museum, and Montgomery History
In Montgomery, you will visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum. This portion of the tour also connects you to the story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Rosa Parks’ courageous role in challenging segregation.
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Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and Ebenezer Baptist Church
Some years, the itinerary also includes visits to key sites in Atlanta connected to Dr. King’s life and ministry, including Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and Ebenezer Baptist Church.
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Worship at a Historically African American Church
As part of the experience, you will also have the opportunity to worship at a historically African American church, connecting with fellow believers in this community.
How Do I Sign Up for the Civil Rights Tour?
Undergraduate students can register for HIST-2500 Civil Rights Tour, a three-credit-hour course offered through the Department of History and Government. The course may be used to satisfy Cedarville’s general education requirements in social science and history.
Designed for students at all academic levels, the course takes an interdisciplinary, discipleship-oriented approach to civil rights, race relations, history, theology, and culture.
The course meets one evening a week during the first half of the fall semester (eight weeks) and culminates in a required five-day tour over fall break. Enrollment is limited to 30 participants.
A course fee helps cover tour costs, and the experience is subsidized by the University. Students must be enrolled in the course to participate in the tour. Faculty and staff interested in participating should contact the Registrar to determine availability.
What Is the Civil Rights Tour Like?
Wondering what it’s like to experience the Civil Rights Tour firsthand? Read Elizabeth’s reflection on the tour to hear how the course and travel experience impacted her understanding of history, faith, and race relations in America.
Read Elizabeth's Story