1 year ago
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From the sign on the outside to the inside, it's a glimpse back in time for those visiting the historic A.G. Gaston Motel in downtown Birmingham. "It's a positive day," David Russell said. "I'm so glad to see it's open today."Russell joined dozens of others who showed up to the motel Thursday for its first day open to the public.It comes after a years-long $10 million renovation paid for by the city to fix it and keep it looking mostly like it did decades ago. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WVTM 13 There's also an exhibit dedicated to A.G. Gaston himself. A Black man with a 10th-grade education, A.G. Gaston became one of the wealthiest men in the South through his various business ventures, which included the motel. "When we look at the A.G. Gaston Motel, we look at one of the crowning pieces of African-American entrepreneurship in Birmingham," historian Barry McNealy said. It all began when the doors first opened. "When the motel opened in 1951, it was a safe place for Black people traveling during the segregated south," senior director for social justice and racial equity Denise Gilmore said. It only became more important during the Civil Rights Movement. Visitors now get a chance to see the famed Room 30, a regular meeting place for civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. "To strategize how to overthrow the most segregated city in the USA," McNealy said. "This place where we're standing right now is pivotal to that campaign."Russell believes the story of the motel and the man behind the motel can teach us all a lesson of perseverance. "This can show that if you get out here and work, do the right thing, do your money the right way, that you can be successful," Russell said. Success, for A.G. Gaston, came from eliminating mental barriers and believing anything is possible. "Gaston was a multi-millionaire. One of the wealthiest men in the entire state of Alabama, Black or White. He would still have to enter the back door to some of the facilities in the back door," McNealy said. "To go from that to here, Gaston is going to be an important signpost to show just how far we've progressed as a city." Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube"They were fighting for human dignity and human respect and so these places are important because it's a place of collective memory, it's a community gathering place, a place that will hopefully inspire the current generation to find a need and fill it," Gilmore said. "That was Dr. Gaston's motto, his mantra."The motel and exhibit are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Admission to the motel and exhibit is free for a limited time.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
From the sign on the outside to the inside, it's a glimpse back in time for those visiting the historic A.G. Gaston Motel in downtown Birmingham.
"It's a positive day," David Russell said. "I'm so glad to see it's open today."
Russell joined dozens of others who showed up to the motel Thursday for its first day open to the public.
It comes after a years-long $10 million renovation paid for by the city to fix it and keep it looking mostly like it did decades ago.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WVTM 13
There's also an exhibit dedicated to A.G. Gaston himself.
A Black man with a 10th-grade education, A.G. Gaston became one of the wealthiest men in the South through his various business ventures, which included the motel.
"When we look at the A.G. Gaston Motel, we look at one of the crowning pieces of African-American entrepreneurship in Birmingham," historian Barry McNealy said.
It all began when the doors first opened.
"When the motel opened in 1951, it was a safe place for Black people traveling during the segregated south," senior director for social justice and racial equity Denise Gilmore said.
It only became more important during the Civil Rights Movement. Visitors now get a chance to see the famed Room 30, a regular meeting place for civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.
"To strategize how to overthrow the most segregated city in the USA," McNealy said. "This place where we're standing right now is pivotal to that campaign."
Russell believes the story of the motel and the man behind the motel can teach us all a lesson of perseverance.
"This can show that if you get out here and work, do the right thing, do your money the right way, that you can be successful," Russell said.
Success, for A.G. Gaston, came from eliminating mental barriers and believing anything is possible.
"Gaston was a multi-millionaire. One of the wealthiest men in the entire state of Alabama, Black or White. He would still have to enter the back door to some of the facilities in the back door," McNealy said. "To go from that to here, Gaston is going to be an important signpost to show just how far we've progressed as a city."
Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
"They were fighting for human dignity and human respect and so these places are important because it's a place of collective memory, it's a community gathering place, a place that will hopefully inspire the current generation to find a need and fill it," Gilmore said. "That was Dr. Gaston's motto, his mantra."
The motel and exhibit are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Admission to the motel and exhibit is free for a limited time.
English (US)