When you visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, you step onto a six-acre site dedicated to commemorating Black victims of racial terrorism and advocating for social justice. Founded by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), this powerful monument opened in 2018 to confront the history of racial terror lynchings, Jim Crow segregation, and ongoing issues like police violence. At the center of your journey is the memorial square, featuring 805 suspended six-foot steel beams—representing counties where documented lynchings occurred—engraved with the names and dates of victims.
As you walk through, you will also encounter moving sculptures that weave a narrative of the African American experience. Kwame Akoto-Bamfo’s Nkyinkyim depicts shackled figures illustrating the Middle Passage, while Dana King’s Guided by Justice honors the unsung heroines of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Hank Willis Thomas’s Raise Up brings the story into the present, depicting Black men encased in concrete with raised hands to address contemporary policing.
Outside, you can sit in quiet reflection spaces dedicated to activists like journalist Ida B. Wells or observe the temporary replica steel columns set aside for EJI's Community Remembrance Project. It offers a profound, unforgettable space for truth-telling and remembrance.
What to see at The National Memorial to Peace and Justice
- 805 suspended steel beams representing U.S. counties with documented lynchings
- Kwame Akoto-Bamfo’s Nkyinkyim sculpture depicting shackled figures of the Middle Passage
- Dana King’s Guided by Justice sculpture honoring silent Montgomery Bus Boycott activists
- Hank Willis Thomas’s Raise Up sculpture connecting historical terror to modern policing
- Landscaped reflection spaces featuring benches honoring activist Ida B. Wells
Visiting tips
Take time to sit on the benches in the landscaped area outside the memorial square to reflect on the site and honor activists like Ida B. Wells.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Early morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
The National Memorial to Peace and Justice is easy to reach on Montgomery’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Montgomery travel guide.
See the full Montgomery travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.