Rebecca Minder is an Alabama Shiny Mild highlighting the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Historical past Path

There are many reasons to visit Tuscaloosa and understandably the University of Alabama and its college football championship program top the list.

Tuscaloosa has other attractions that may not have the academic reach of UA or the roar of the Bryant Denny Stadium, but generate their own breadth of knowledge and intensity of emotion.

The Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail is certainly one of them.

“The Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History & Reconciliation Foundation exists because a group of people had the vision in 2015 to create a Civil Rights Trail here in Tuscaloosa,” said Rebecca Minder, board member of the TCRHR. “They spoke to historians and people involved in the civil rights movement here in Tuscaloosa and then told these stories.”

Rebecca Minder with the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail is an Alabama Bright Light from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

The result was the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail, which aims to establish Tuscaloosa as a destination for those interested in the history of civil rights. It contains markers that show the main areas in and around the city. Board members and volunteers also give tours and collect artifacts and memorabilia for preservation and display. They are also making plans for a future Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Museum.

Minder said the vision is to weave Tuscaloosa into the tapestry of Alabama’s storied civil rights history.

“These stories are seldom told because when you think of Alabama civil rights, you think of Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma. You don’t think of Tuscaloosa, ”she said. “After polling the people in our community, we found we had great stories to tell.”

Rebecca Minder and Samyra Snoddy from the board of directors of the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History & Reconciliation Foundation. (contributed)

The Tuscaloosa Old Jail housed both black and white prisoners from 1856 to 1890. (Contribution)

Proclamation from Mark Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan (right), to Foundation Co-Presidents Tim Lewis (left) and Scott Bridges. (contributed)

Proclamation to the Board of Directors of the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History & Reconciliation Foundation by Mark Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan. (contributed)

Reverend Thomas Linton stands next to the interpretive marker outside his hair salon where Autherine Lucy was taken after she was attacked by students in 1956 while trying to take classes at the University of Alabama. (Contribution)

The Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail can be a self-guided tour, or groups can request a guided tour through the foundation’s website at civilrightstuscaloosa.org. (contributed)

Throughout downtown Tuscaloosa there are trail markers with numbers that reflect information contained in the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail brochure. (contributed)

That story and stories still affect Minder and those who visit the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail.

“If I am involved in the civil rights history of Tuscaloosa now, I am shocked, to be honest,” said Minder. “What excites me are the stories. These are stories that need to be told and the voices need to be heard. And yes, it’s still shocking. “

More information is available at http://www.civilrightstuscaloosa.org.