Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Newberry's Department Store/IMAX Dome Theater
Destination
— Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
1. Newberry's Department Store/IMAX Dome Theater Marker
The former Newberry's Department Store was also one of the first major retail stores where "Project C" demonstrators staged economic boycotts and lunch counter sit-ins to protest racial discrimination and segregation. The store had the largest lunch counter among Birmingham's downtown department stores. According to news reports, more than two thousand people swarmed the retail district in protest during the 1963 Birmingham Campaign. Small groups of demonstrators entered stores and sang freedom songs. This old retail building was demolished to make way for the present modern IMAX movie theater, which is now a part of the McWane Science Center.
"This retail district was swamped with Freedom Soldiers"
Robert Adams
photographer for The Birmingham News, May 7, 1963.
Lesson C26: Name at least three downtown stores that were targets of the economic boycotts in "Project C's" 1963 Birmingham Campaign.
Erected by the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail. (Marker Number C26.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music
this page online
Location. 33° 30.889′ N, 86° 48.47′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. Marker is at the intersection of 19th Street North and 2nd Avenue North, on the right when traveling south on 19th Street North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 19th St N, Birmingham AL 35203, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Celebrity Star Power (a few steps from this marker); Let My Brother Go (within shouting distance of this marker); Integration Corner (within shouting distance of this marker); Sitting in for Lunch (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Music in the Movement (about 300 feet away); Loveman's Department Store/McWane Science Center (about 300 feet away); Former F.W. Woolworth Store Building (about 300 feet away); S.H. Kress Store Building (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.
Regarding Newberry's Department Store/IMAX Dome Theater. The Civil Rights Activist Committee “Home of the Foot Soldiers“ is the Information Center for the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
2. Newberry's Department Store/IMAX Dome Theater Marker
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
3. Newberry's Department Store/IMAX Dome Theater Marker
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
4. IMAX Dome Theater entrance
Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 254 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 11, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
