Meridian, Mississippi Civil Rights Trail Historical Markers
"Although the dark days of this period continue to define Mississippians to the rest of the world, Freedom Summer workers remember Mississippi as a catalyst for change. The Meridian Civil Rights Trail acknowledges this painful past and celebrates those who fought for a brighter future.
On 25th Avenue at 5th Street, on the left when traveling north on 25th Avenue.
The African-American Business District provided services that Meridian’s black community could not otherwise receive due to Jim Crow laws that kept the South segregated. It was the location of a hotel, restaurants, barber and beauty shops, a . . . — — Map (db m111048) HM
On 45th Avenue north of 8th Street, on the right when traveling north.
The Council of Organizations is a nonprofit association that promotes social, cultural and educational interests of the African-American community. The building was formerly an IGA grocery that was picketed during the Civil Rights movement. — — Map (db m111078) HM
On 9th Street west of Constitution Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
The Federal Courthouse in Meridian was the site of two of the most significant legal actions in Civil Rights history: the filing of James Meredith's lawsuit to integrate the University of Mississippi in 1961 and the infamous "Mississippi Burning" . . . — — Map (db m111056) HM
On 38th Avenue north of Davis Street, on the right when traveling north.
Founded in 1891, First Union Missionary Baptist Church served as a meeting place for numerous Civil Rights activities. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke here during the Freedom Summer of 1964. Weeks later, First Union was the site of activist James . . . — — Map (db m111084) HM
On 4th Street at Constitution Avenue, on the left when traveling west on 4th Street.
Freedom Riders traveled through the Meridian bus station without major incident, thanks to negotiation efforts by local Civil Rights activists and police. Their experience was unlike that in other cities, where they faced mob violence and arrests. — — Map (db m111066) HM
On Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at 16th Street, on the right when traveling north on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
In the summer of 1964, dozens of Freedom Schools opened across Mississippi. The largest was located at Meridian Baptist Seminary. It provided additional education opportunities to the African-American community and hosted the statewide Freedom . . . — — Map (db m111077) HM
On 6th Street at 16th Avenue, on the left when traveling west on 6th Street.
Meridian's oldest cemetery was founded by Richard McLemore, Meridian's first permanent white settler, in 1839. Buried here are many of the approximately 30 victims who died during the Meridian Race Riot of 1871. The riot signaled the end of the . . . — — Map (db m111067) HM
On 13th Avenue at 14th Street, on the right when traveling north on 13th Avenue.
Newell Chapel CME Church was involved in Civil Rights meetings and voter registration projects. It was one of three original locations of the Head Start program. The church parsonage was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1968. — — Map (db m111068) HM
On 47th Avenue at 9th Street, on the right when traveling south on 47th Avenue.
Folk singer and political activist Pete Seeger was performing for a large crowd of Freedom Summer volunteers when he received word that the bodies of Civil Rights workers James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman had been found. The crowd . . . — — Map (db m111081) HM
On 5th Street at 23rd Avenue, on the right when traveling east on 5th Street.
Sit-ins, pickets and boycotts were used to persuade white-owned businesses to hire black employees and integrate lunch counters. The Meridian Action Committee (MAC) was formed in part to carry out these tasks. Kress, Woolworth's and Newberry . . . — — Map (db m111052) HM
On 20th Street at 18th Avenue, on the right when traveling west on 20th Street.
St. John Baptist Church was one of two locations where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was scheduled to speak in 1964, as well as the site of Polly Heidelberg's memorable confrontation of a former Klan member. "Miss Polly" was a mother figure to local . . . — — Map (db m111070) HM
On 18th Avenue north of 19th Street, on the right when traveling north.
St. Joseph Catholic Church operated a coeducational school that served young black students from 1910 to 1970. The school also offered adult education classes. Former students include James Chaney and Polly Heidelberg. — — Map (db m111069) HM
On 13th Street at 27th Avenue, on the right when traveling west on 13th Street.
Churches were the heart and soul of the Civil Rights movement. New Hope Missionary Baptist, founded in 1868, was Meridian's first black Baptist church. St. Paul United Methodist, founded in 1866, donated land for the Carnegie Branch Library, the . . . — — Map (db m111071) HM
On 22nd Avenue north of 5th Street, on the left when traveling north.
Jewish merchants contributed greatly to Meridian's growth. The Grand Opera House (MSU Riley Center) and the Threefoot Building stand as evidence of their business success. Although Jews were well accepted in Meridian, their support of Civil Rights . . . — — Map (db m111054) HM
On 25th Avenue at 5th Street, on the left when traveling north on 25th Avenue.
The Civil Rights movement in Meridian has a tumultuous history strongly linked to this area of downtown. From the 1871 Race Riot beginning at Con Sheehan Hall to the Freedom Summer activities of workers at the Council of Federated Organizations . . . — — Map (db m111051) HM
On 5th Street at Constitution Avenue, on the left when traveling east on 5th Street.
Voter registration was one of the goals of the Civil Rights movement. In the South, poll taxes and literacy exams like the one given here at the Lauderdale County Courthouse were used to prevent African-Americans from registering. These practices . . . — — Map (db m111058) HM
On 15th Street west of 30th Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
Built in 1894, Wechsler School was Mississippi's first brick public school building for black children to be constructed with public funds. It was named in honor of Rabbi Judah Weschler, who led the effort to provide public education for black . . . — — Map (db m111074) HM
