The nation's first memorial dedicated to the legacy of enslaved people and racial terror lynchings
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice at 417 Caroline Street in Montgomery, Alabama was created by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and opened in April 2018 as the United States' first memorial dedicated to the history of racial terror lynching. Built on six acres of elevated ground overlooking downtown Montgomery and designed by MASS Design Group, the memorial documents the lynching of more than 4,000 African Americans across the American South between 1877 and 1950.
The memorial's defining architectural element is an open-air steel pavilion housing 800 rectangular Corten steel monuments—one for each county in the United States where documented racial terror lynchings occurred. Each monument bears the names of victims from that county. The floor of the pavilion descends gradually as visitors move through the space, while the monuments remain fixed to the ceiling structure, causing them to rise until they hang suspended above visitors' heads. The deliberate effect is visceral: the scale and character of systematic racial violence becomes physically, not merely intellectually, apparent. Surrounding the pavilion, the memorial's hillside grounds include a sculpture garden featuring large-scale bronze works by Ghanaian artist Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, reflective pools, and terraced landscaping that extends across the site.
Adjacent to the pavilion lies a field of duplicate county monuments laid flat, awaiting claim by their respective counties: EJI's vision is that communities across the South will accept their monument, erect it publicly, and engage in a formal communal act of acknowledgment. As of 2025, most remain unclaimed at the site. The memorial operates in close partnership with EJI's Legacy Museum at 115 Coosa Street, and combined tickets are available at museumandmemorial.eji.org. A suggested donation of $5 per adult is requested; children are admitted free.
Location
417 Caroline St, Montgomery, AL 36104
Highlights
- 800 Corten steel county monuments suspended overhead in a descending-floor pavilion, each engraved with victims' names
- Architectural descent that causes monuments to rise overhead, creating a visceral sense of the scale of racial terror
- Hillside sculpture garden with large-scale bronze works by Kwame Akoto-Bamfo addressing slavery and grief
- Field of duplicate county monuments awaiting public claim by communities across the United States
- Hilltop site with panoramic views over downtown Montgomery, Alabama
Tips for visiting
- Purchase a combined ticket with the Legacy Museum at museumandmemorial.eji.org to visit both EJI sites in one day
- Weekday morning visits provide the most reflective atmosphere with fewer fellow visitors at the pavilion
- Allow 90 minutes to 3 hours; the monuments reward slow, careful reading and repeated traversal of the pavilion
- Bring water and sunscreen in summer; the memorial grounds are largely exposed to the sun
- Audio guides available at the entrance add individual histories to the engraved names on the county monuments
Accessibility
The pavilion and main sculpture areas are accessible via paved paths to wheelchair users. Some hillside sections of the grounds involve slopes; EJI can provide specific accessibility guidance on request at museumandmemorial.eji.org.
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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 makes for a full day in Montgomery.
Is the memorial accessible for wheelchair users?
The pavilion and primary sculpture areas are accessible via paved paths. Some hillside sections involve gentle slopes; contact EJI at museumandmemorial.eji.org for specific accessibility arrangements.
Can children visit the memorial?
Yes. EJI has developed interpretive materials for a range of ages, though parents should be prepared for difficult historical content and plan to discuss it with younger visitors.
Is photography permitted at the memorial?
Photography for personal use is welcomed throughout the memorial grounds and the pavilion interior.