One hundred years before the 1965 Voting Rights March focused on the Dallas county courthouse in nearby Selma, a brave community of recently emancipated African-Americans gathered around an older courthouse in Cahawba.

These 19th century “foot soldiers” exercised their right to vote and — for a brief time — gained great political power.

Saturday’s wagon tour at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park tells the story of Cahawba’s African American majority and traces their path from slavery to freedom with a special emphasis on how they reshaped Cahawba as they pursued their dreams of equality.

The one hour special tour costs $10 for adults and $8 for children.

Directions: From downtown Selma, take Highway 22 (Dallas Avenue) west 8.6 miles. Cross over the Cahaba River and turn left onto County Road 9 and follow this 3.3 miles until it dead ends. Turn left onto County Road 2 and follow this 1.5 miles until you see the Visitor Center on the right. Visitor Center Address: 9518 Cahaba Road, Orrville, AL 36767.

For more information contact Linda Derry at cahawba@bellsouth.net or call the park at (334) 872-8058.

Old Cahawba lies at the confluence of the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers, and from 1819 to 1826 it served as Alabama’s first capital. Today, the Alabama Historical Commission owns and operates this significant archaeological site.