Where Courage Gathered.
Where the Movement Began.
Our History
Founded in 1909, Holt Street Memorial Baptist Church stands as a sacred landmark of faith, courage, and change. It was here, on December 5, 1955, that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped launch the Montgomery Bus Boycott and ignite the modern Civil Rights Movement—transforming a local struggle into a national call for justice.
A Church rooted in Community
The Birthplace of the Modern Civil Rights Movement
Preserving the Legacy
Visit Us
Holt Street is where the Montgomery Bus Boycott began — where thousands gathered on December 5, 1955, to hear a young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak, and where the modern Civil Rights Movement found its voice. That moment happened here, on this street, in this building. The Holt Street Baptist Church Civil Rights Museum preserves that history.
Join our knowledgeable guides for an in-depth tour of the church and its history. Tours are available hourly.