The National Memorial for Peace and Justice at 417 Caroline Street in Montgomery, Alabama is the first memorial in the United States dedicated to the history of racial terror lynching. Created by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and opened in April 2018, the memorial occupies six acres of elevated ground overlooking downtown Montgomery and was designed by MASS Design Group in partnership with EJI founder Bryan Stevenson. The site documents the lynching of more than 4,000 African American men, women, and children across the American South between 1877 and 1950.
At the memorial's center is an open-air pavilion housing 800 rectangular Corten steel monuments suspended from the ceiling beams—one for each county in the United States where documented racial terror lynchings occurred. Each monument is engraved with the names of victims from that county. As visitors move through the pavilion, the floor descends gradually while the monuments remain fixed overhead, causing them to rise until they hang suspended like bodies above the visitors below. The design, intentional and affecting, renders the abstract statistics of racial violence viscerally comprehensible. Surrounding the pavilion, sculptural works by Ghanaian artist Kwame Akoto-Bamfo address themes of slavery, mourning, and remembrance, and reflective pools and terraced grounds extend across the hillside site.
A separate field adjacent to the pavilion contains duplicate sets of the 800 county monuments lying flat. EJI's plan invites individual counties to claim their monument, erect it publicly within their community, and thereby participate in a formal act of acknowledgment; as of 2025 the majority remain unclaimed at the site. The memorial is closely paired with EJI's Legacy Museum at 115 Coosa Street, and combined tickets for both sites are available. A suggested donation of $5 per adult is requested; children are admitted free. The memorial is open Wednesday through Monday.
Why it matters
Opened in 2018, this is the first memorial in the United States dedicated solely to racial terror lynching, commemorating over 4,000 African Americans killed across the South between 1877 and 1950 and representing the nation's most prominent public acknowledgment of this history.
Location
417 Caroline St, Montgomery, AL 36104
32.3736, -86.3011 View on map
Highlights
- 800 Corten steel county monuments suspended overhead in a descending-floor pavilion, each engraved with victims' names
- Intentional architectural descent causing monuments to rise overhead as visitors proceed, evoking the scale of racial terror
- Large-scale bronze sculptures by Kwame Akoto-Bamfo addressing slavery and mourning across the hillside grounds
- Field of duplicate county monuments awaiting claim by communities across the United States
- Panoramic hilltop site with reflective pools and terraced gardens overlooking downtown Montgomery
Tips for visiting
- Purchase a combined ticket with the Legacy Museum at museumandmemorial.eji.org to visit both EJI sites on the same day
- Weekday morning visits provide the most contemplative experience with fewer fellow visitors at the pavilion
- Allow 90 minutes to 3 hours; many visitors return to specific monuments multiple times during their visit
- Bring water and sunscreen in summer months; much of the memorial is exposed to the Alabama sun
- Audio guides available at the entrance add individual stories to the county monument engravings and are highly recommended
When to visit
Weekday mornings in spring or autumn offer cooler temperatures and a quieter atmosphere for reflection; the outdoor site can be hot and exposed during Alabama summers.
Accessibility
The pavilion and primary sculpture areas are navigable via paved paths and are accessible to wheelchair users. Some hillside sections of the grounds involve gentle slopes; EJI can provide specific accessibility guidance on request.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice take?
Most visitors spend 90 minutes to 3 hours at the memorial. Combining it with the Legacy Museum on the same day requires a full day in Montgomery.
Can children visit the memorial?
Yes; EJI has designed interpretive materials suitable for a range of ages. Parents should be prepared for emotionally difficult historical content and plan to discuss it with younger visitors.
Is the memorial wheelchair accessible?
The main pavilion and primary sculpture areas are accessible via paved paths. Some hillside areas involve slopes; contact EJI directly at museumandmemorial.eji.org for specific accessibility arrangements.
Is photography permitted at the memorial?
Photography for personal use is welcomed throughout the memorial grounds and the pavilion.