National Civil Rights Museum Expands; Trump Has No Content Control

In Atlanta, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is undergoing a $60 million expansion, set to reopen on November 8, 2025. Unlike Smithsonian museums, which face scrutiny from the Trump administration over historical narratives, this privately funded center remains independent of such federal influence. The renovation adds six new galleries, classrooms, and interactive exhibits designed to engage visitors in civil and human rights, racial justice, and democracy.

Jill Savitt, the center’s president and CEO, described the transformation as turning a “relatively static museum into a dynamic place” encouraging action. The center continues its educational outreach with over 300 online lesson plans, a LGBTQ+ Institute, diversity training, and a Truth & Transformation Initiative addressing forced labor and racial terror.

Founded by civil rights leaders Evelyn Lowery and Andrew Young in 2014 on land donated by Coca-Cola, the center aims to attract repeat visitors with immersive experiences like the “Change Agent Adventure,” which invites children under 12 to pledge small acts of empathy and justice. Savitt said, “I think advocacy and change-making is kind of addictive. It’s contagious.”

New exhibits include “Broken Promises,” highlighting the Reconstruction era’s progress and backlash, featuring a bullet-riddled Georgia historical marker from the 1918 lynching of Mary Turner. A recreated Martin Luther King Jr. home office will display family photos from his daughter, Rev. Bernice King.

The center replaces images of genocidal leaders with stories of human rights victories, emphasizing hope and agency. Visitors can also experience a 1960s sit-in simulation, with a new reflection area for processing the intense content.

The expansion was supported by donors including Home Depot co-founder Arthur M. Blank and the Mellon Foundation, reflecting a shared interest in promoting democracy and citizenship education.

Sources:

• CBS News