The struggle for equality under the law has continued for much of American history. During the Civil Rights Movement, the nation and the world saw the impact that demonstrations and action led by communities can have. Many of these brave people hailed from Virginia. Learn about their fight for social justice when you visit these iconic historic sites along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail®.

The Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail–Fredericksburg 

Trace the path of history on the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail, which includes more than 20 stops to learn about the places and people that played a part of the Civil Rights Movement. 

The trail is split in two parts—a 2.6-mile walking tour through Fredericksburg’s historic downtown district and a 1.9-mile driving tour that includes stop on the University of Mary Washington campus, Shiloh Cemetery, and the Dorothy Hart Community Center. 

Before You Go: Check out the trail maps to get a preview of your route and plan stops along the way. 

Robert Russa Moton Museum—Farmville

Robert Russa Moton Museum

You'll find the Robert Russa Moton Museum in the former R.R. Moton High School of Farmville. As the site of the first non-violent student demonstration in the United States, Moton directly led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case, which ruled that segregation of schools based on race was unconstitutional.

Quick History: Moton High School was built in 1939 as a response to the legal challenges brought by African Americans regarding educational opportunities in Prince Edward. Less than a decade later, the school was heavily overpopulated, the buildings were in varying states of disrepair, and the Prince Edward County board refused to appropriate funds to improve the situation. On April 23, 1951, Black students—led by 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns—walked out of the segregated high school in protest of the school’s abysmal conditions.

The museum tells the story of the battle for equality in education as well as revealing the resilient nature of the county's Black community. When Prince Edward County refused to integrate schools, the public school system was shut down for four years. Local church groups organized "training centers" for children, a collective effort to maintain education efforts. 

Heartland Regional Visitor Center—Farmville

Before the Civil Rights movement, segregated school systems appropriated funds with blatant discrimination. African Americans, women, and other minorities were denied the most basic materials and facilities when it came to their education, leading to inequalities that would echo for decades to come. Yet many Virginians would play a pivotal role in changing the system, taking the first steps towards equality in education.

The Heartland Regional Visitor Center is your ticket to learning about these individuals. Knowledgeable staff will provide you with ideas and brochures on 41 historic sites, as well as options for dining, lodging, and other activities along the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail®.

Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History—Danville

The exterior of the Danville Museum of Fine Arts on a sunny day.
Photo Credit: David Hungate

See how Danville garnered national attention for its Civil Rights demonstrations at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. The permanent exhibit "The Movement: Danville's Civil Rights" lets visitors explore how the Danville Christian Progressive Association marched, argued, and fought for equal rights. The demonstrations included a 1960 sit-in at a segregated library—now the site of the museum itself. 

Before You Go: See historic footage and hear from Civil Rights activists in this VPM video about "Bloody Monday," a June 10, 1963 demonstration where police used violence to suppress protestors. The event garnered attention from national groups, including Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the NAACP.

The Virginia Civil Rights Memorial—Richmond

Virginia Civil Rights Memorial Statue in Richmond

Outside of the Virginia State Capitol Building is the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, a bronze and marble sculpture of Barbara Johns and other students who led a strike to protest their racially segregated school. Their protest led all the way to the Supreme Court and the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which found that "separate but equal" education policies were unconstitutional.

Bonus: Learn more about Richmond's Black history in the Jackson Ward neighborhood, known as the "Harlem of the South" for its importance to Black culture and business. There, you'll find the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, not to mention plenty of great restaurants.