1530 6th Ave NBirmingham, AL 35203
The 16th Street Baptist Church is the first black Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama established in 1873. The 16th Street Baptist Church is home to the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing in September 15, 1963 by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
Church Services, Bible Study, Prayer Meeting, Vacation Bible School
Group tours available
NRHP September 17, 1980
NHL February 20, 2006
ARLH June 16, 1976
Sunday Services:
Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.
Morning Worship - 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday Services:
Bible Study - 6:30 p.m.
Prayer Meeting - 7:30 p.m.
The 16th Street Baptist Church is located in Birmingham, Alabama and was the site of the September 15, 1963 Ku Klux Klan bombing. The Bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church took place September 15, 1963 on a Sunday at 10:22 a.m. injuring 22 and killing 4 girls.
The 16th Street Baptist Church became the first colored Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Located in a small building on the corner of 4th Avenue and 12th Street North they moved to the current location on 6th Avenue North and 16th Street in 1880. In 1884 a modern brick building was erected where the church is currently located.
The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing still resonates today and tragedy in the history of the US and in the state of Alabama. At 10:22 a.m. roughly 15 sticks of dynamite exploded under the steps of the east side of the church causing mass damage. The four girls who were killed were in the basement of the church of changing into robes for a play entitled “A Love That Forgives”. The church received an anonymous phone call roughly a couple of minutes before the explosion saying “Three minutes”.
The four girls who died in the explosion:
- Cynthia Wesley (born April 30, 1949) Age 14
- Carole Robertson (born April 24, 1949) Age 14
- Carol Denise McNair (born November 17, 1951) Age 11
- Addie Mae Collins (born April 18, 1949) Age 14
The explosion shook the church blowing a five foot deep crater and hole in the brick wall. It also destroyed cars in the parking lot, blew out all the windows in the church except one and caused damage to windows up to 2 blocks away.
The 16th Street Baptist Church became a U.S. National Historic Landmark February 20, 2006. Was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on September 17, 1980. Was added to Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in June 16, 1976.
Learn more about The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing or learn more about The 16th Street Baptist Church
From the National Park Service 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing (1963)
Great NPR article Long Forgotten, 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Survivor Speaks Out
