Planned center to search for artifacts

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 20, 2002

Plans are moving forward to construct three visitor centers along the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March trail, with one of those centers possibly located on Water Ave.

The National Park Service is currently working on obtaining items for the center that will be in Lowndes County at the site of Tent City, near White Hall.

Catherine Light, site manger with the National Park Service, said negotiations are under way to use the building at 2 Broad Street to house the visitor center in Selma.

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The center in Montgomery will be located across from St. Jude.

Light said that they are looking for items worn or carried during the march, such as flyers, announcements or other things of interest.

The center is hoping to interview those who participated in the march as well, so those who visit the center will be able to hear first person accounts about what happened.

The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail was created in 1996 and is managed by the National Park Service.

Light said that they plan on the visitor center at Tent City to be the first one completed.

Plans to design visitor center exhibits for the Selma and Montgomery locations will begin in early January.

People interested in sharing stories, photos and other memorabilia with the new visitor centers can contact Light at (334) 353-3863 or through e-mail at catherine_farmer@nps.gov.