On September 15, 1963 The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church was bombed killing four girls and galvanizing the Civil Rights Movement. In 2005, The Sixteenth Street Foundation initiated the restoration and preservation of the Church and Annex, hiring ArchitectureWorks, a local construction company and a historic preservation firm. The rehabilitation and restoration work was completed in two phases. Phase I encompassed extensive foundation repairs, storm water collection systems installation, sidewalks and landscaping. Phase II included restoration and repair of masonry, exterior windows and doors, roofing and significant architectural features. In 2006 the Church received National Landmark designation by the United States Department of the Interior because of its significance in the Civil Rights movement.
AWARDS AND DESIGNATIONS
National Register of Historic Places, 1980
U.S. Department of Interior National Landmark, 2006
Preservation Award, Birmingham Historical Society, 2007
National Park Service Birmingham Civil Rights Monument, 2017
PRESS
CBS News, “Historic civil rights district in Alabama designated national monument”
National Park Service Website, “Interior and National Park Service Announces $12.6 Million in Grants to Preserve African American Civil Rights History”
National Trust for Historic Preservation Website, “2018 Partners in Preservation: Main Streets”