Developed in part for Alabama’s bicentennial celebration, Alabama Justice: The Cases and Faces That Changed A Nation, is an interactive, traveling exhibit that covers issues including civil rights, equal protection, city zoning and prayer in public schools.
Published: February 26, 2019
By: Courtesy of Vulcan Park and Museum
Author Website: Click to Visit
A new exhibition commissioned by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission will make its Birmingham debut at Vulcan Park and Museum’s Linn-Henley Gallery, February 15 – May 9.
This exhibit tells the stories of eight landmark Alabama-based cases – Wallace v Jaffree (1985), NAACP v Alabama (1958), New York Times v Sullivan (1964), The Scottsboro Trials, Gomillion v Lightfoot (1960), Frontiero v Richardson (1973), Reynolds v Sims (1964) and Katzenbach v. McClung (1964).
Created by Dr. Steven P. Brown of Auburn University along with Backstory Educational Media, the exhibit presents each case by issue, arguments and the Supreme Court’s ruling. The digital interactive components will enable viewers to scroll through the historical background and legal precedents for each case, as well as hear actual oral arguments. Additional panels include profiles of Alabama’s three Supreme Court justices: John McKinley, John Archibald Campbell and Hugo Black.
The exhibit is available for viewing from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. Cost of admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors/military, $4 for children ages 5 through 12 and children 4 and under are free.
Panel discussion set February 26
As a complement to the exhibit, Vulcan Park and Museum will host a panel discussion, Alabama Justice: From Reconstruction to Civil Rights on February 26 at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Natalie Davis will serve as a moderator for an enlightening discussion with Attorney J. Mason Davis, Judge U. W. Clemon and Dr. Edwin Bridges on how the legacy of laws enacted during Reconstruction and the early 20th century constitutions of Southern States disenfranchised black people and set the stage for many of the cases in the Alabama Justice exhibit, the marches of the Civil Rights Movement and the later reorganization of Birmingham’s city government.
“We are looking forward to a thought-provoking discussion about the evolution of law in this country through the judicial system and how that has created a lasting impact for Birmingham and Alabama today,” said Jennifer Watts, Director of Museum Programs of Vulcan Park and Museum.
Cost to attend the panel will be $8 for members, and $10 for general admission.
For more information on the exhibit, or to purchase panel tickets, go to visitvulcan.com/events.
About Vulcan® Park and Museum
Vulcan Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization which operates Vulcan Park and Museum on behalf of the City of Birmingham. Vulcan Park and Museum’s mission is to preserve and promote Vulcan as the symbol for the Birmingham region, advance knowledge and understanding of Birmingham’s history and culture and to encourage exploration of the region.