Overview
Selma is a city in Alabama. Selma has the distinction of being a notable place in the pages of history, for its role in the Civil War and doubly-so for its role in the Civil Rights Movement. Though a bit forgotten and depressed today, during the Confederacy it was second only to Richmond in providing critical munitions from an armory, and thus was a target of Union forces, which, through stealth and sacrifice, took the city in the final month of the Civil War, and set General Nathan Bedford Forrest on the run, though this guy managed to live to a ripe old age anyway. This was known as the Battle of Selma.
White segregationists weren't about to have equal rights and treatment after the Civil War dust had settled though, and they put a stranglehold on any such idea in Selma with an unduly heavy hand. Poll taxes and literacy tests were the rule of the day, not to mention extrajudicial hangings of African Americans for alleged crimes. After too many years of this, a movement inspired by courageous black leaders and groups such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) rose up to contend against these proceedings, with marches and protests that often resulted in clubbings and arrests. This became crystallized in a march from Selma to Montgomery to bring attention to civil rights, with the first attempt cut down on the Edmund Pettus Bridge outside of Selma in a day later regarded as Bloody Sunday, that was revived in a second and third attempt with the likes of Martin Luther King Jr and John Lewis, which brought nationwide recognition to secure passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
7 sights · 1 things to do · 1 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Selma
Edmund Pettus Bridge
The Edmund Winston Pettus Bridge was the scene of the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. The demonstrations that occurred here led to the U.S. Voting Rights Act of 1965. The bridge was erected in 1939 and named after U.S…
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute
Brown Chapel AME Church
This house of worship is a historical site of essentially where the Voter Registration Act began with such visionaries as Reverend Ralph Abernathy, statesman John Lewis, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr meeting to start th…
Sturdivant Hall Museum
A Greek Revival mansion of outstanding quality built in 1856, if you're wanting to explore an antebellum era property.
Vaughan Smitherman Museum
Another antebellum-type home. The third floor has been restored to a mid nineteenth century hospital.
Paul Grist State Park
100 acre lake with 11 modern campsites, and nearby primitive camping.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 94°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Mar and Jul. (climate data from nearby River Heritage)
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.
- MGM Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) Airport, Montgomery — 37 mi away. Directions
- BHM Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham — 81 mi away (major hub). Directions
From Montgomery US-80 W/Alabama 8/Selma Hwy toward Selma.
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 Edmund Pettus Bridge, National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, Slavery & Civil War Museum
- Lunch Tally-Ho Restaurant
- Afternoon Brown Chapel AME Church, Vaughan Smitherman Museum
Day 2
- Morning Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
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
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
From Montgomery US-80 W/Alabama 8/Selma Hwy toward Selma.
See
See Edmund Pettus Bridge
The Edmund Winston Pettus Bridge was the scene of the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. The demonstrations that occurred here led to the U.S. Voting Rights Act of 1965. The bridge was erected in 1939 and named after U.S. Senator Edmund Winston Pettus.
See Brown Chapel AME Church
This house of worship is a historical site of essentially where the Voter Registration Act began with such visionaries as Reverend Ralph Abernathy, statesman John Lewis, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr meeting to start the grassroots campaign, and where the latter spoke on the topic of redress, in defiance of the authorities. The church is in a bit of a rough neighborhood, so use common sense.
Do
Eat
Sleep
Go next
- Black Belt, the African-American heartland
Nearby
Clanton
City / town · 2 listings · 38 mi away
Millbrook
City / town · 2 listings · 39 mi away
Montgomery
City / town · 54 listings · 43 mi away
Greenville
City / town · 11 listings · 46 mi away
Demopolis
City / town · 5 listings · 48 mi away
Eutaw
City / town · 59 mi away
Pelham
City / town · 2 listings · 64 mi away
Tuscaloosa
City / town · 36 listings · 64 mi away
My experience
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