On September 28, 1991, the National Civil Rights Museum opened its doors to visitors.
In February 2001, the Museum broke ground for an $11 million expansion project entitled, Exploring the Legacy .
Exploring the Legacy adds 12,800 square feet of exhibition space and connects the main campus of the Museum to the Young and Morrow building and the Main Street Rooming House where James Earl Ray allegedly fired the fatal shot resulting in the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both buildings were donated to the Museum by the Hyde Family Foundation.
Exploring the Legacy answers three critical questions: What happened after Dr. King's death? Did the Movement die in Memphis? What is the legacy of the Movement nationally and internationally?
The expansion also includes an overview of some of the world’s most crucial human rights movements and the achievements gained through the efforts and sacrifices of courageous individuals who stood by their convictions. In celebration of the Museum’s 11th anniversary, Exploring the Legacy opened to the public on September 28, 2002.
Museum Mission
The National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination, chronicles key episodes of the American civil rights movement and the legacy of this movement to inspire participation in civil and human rights efforts globally, through our collections, exhibitions, and educational programs.
