Overview
Anniston is a town of 22,000 people (2018) on the slope of the Blue Mountain in Alabama. It has several historic sites from the civil rights campaign of the 1960s.
7 sights · 1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Anniston
Freedom Riders National Monument
Two historic sites preserved to honor the Freedom Riders, civil rights activists who nonviolently protested racial discrimination and were attacked by mobs in 1961. The monument consists of two sites in different parts o…
Historic Greyhound Bus Station
Where a mob of segregationists and Klansmen attacked Freedom Riders on Sunday, May 14, 1961. The station is not open to the public, but next to it is a mural and information about the event.
Bus Burning Site
Six miles away from the Greyhound station, the bus carrying the riders out of town broke down due to the damage done by the mob. Meanwhile the segregationists had been chasing the bus, and they set fire to it and attacke…
Historic Trailways Bus Station
Where another group of Freedom Riders stopped and were beaten by a group of segregationists who forced them to sit separately. The historic station now has a mural and information panels.
Anniston Museum of Natural History
World's Largest Office Chair
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 35°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Mar and Jul. (climate data from nearby Metropolitan Alabama)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BHM Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham — 54 mi away (major hub). Directions
- ATL Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta — 80 mi away (major hub). Directions
The Amtrak Station at 126 West 4th Street is served by the Crescent service.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Historic Greyhound Bus Station, World's Largest Office Chair, Bus Burning Site
- Afternoon Freedom Riders National Monument, Historic Trailways Bus Station
Day 2
- Morning Anniston Museum of Natural History, Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge
- Afternoon Anniston Memorial Hospital
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
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Photos
Map
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Get in
By train
The Amtrak Station at 126 West 4th Street is served by the Crescent service.
By bus
Greyhound buses no longer use the historic bus station that is now a national monument. They stop at the train station instead.
By bicycle
Go Chief Ladiga Trail
Bike path that goes from the Georgia state line and terminates in Anniston. At the state line, this trail connects to the Silver Comet Trail.
See
Anniston has architecturally significant churches and Victorian houses.
Civil Rights Era
The Anniston Civil Rights Trail includes ten historic sites from the Civil Rights Movement in Anniston.
See Historic Greyhound Bus Station
Where a mob of segregationists and Klansmen attacked Freedom Riders on Sunday, May 14, 1961. The station is not open to the public, but next to it is a mural and information about the event.
See Bus Burning Site
Six miles away from the Greyhound station, the bus carrying the riders out of town broke down due to the damage done by the mob. Meanwhile the segregationists had been chasing the bus, and they set fire to it and attacked the escaping passengers. The field where the bus was burned is now marked with a sign.
See Anniston Memorial Hospital
The injured Freedom Riders made their way to this hospital, where most of them were refused treatment and the mob attacked them again, until they were rescued by deacons who drove them back to Birmingham.
See Historic Trailways Bus Station
Where another group of Freedom Riders stopped and were beaten by a group of segregationists who forced them to sit separately. The historic station now has a mural and information panels.
Museums
Other sights
Do
Stay safe
Anniston has a high crime rate.
Go next
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My experience
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