Restoration Work Begins on Historic A.G. Gaston Motel
Work has begun to restore the motel that was a key location for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and others during the civil rights movement, officials announced Wednesday. The A.G. Gaston Motel is part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, designated by President Barack Obama in 2017. The city expects the renovations to be complete by December 2021.
Retired Birmingham educator Odessa Woolfolk remembers when the A.G. Gaston Motel had a lounge and a restaurant. It was the only local motel for blacks before the civil rights movement forced integration of public accommodations.
The Rev. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders including the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and the Rev. Ralph Abernathy often used Room 30 to strategize for the movement. It was bombed in May 1963 but later repaired.
The motel closed in the 1970s, and it has been boarded up for decades. Now, crews are inspecting the building to determine the best way to restore it. An architect specializing in historic preservation is assisting with the restoration.
The $10 million restoration is part of a partnership with the National Park Service and the City of Birmingham.
Woolfolk, Mayor Randall Woodfin and Council President Valerie Abbott were among the speakers at a press conference Wednesday to talk about the project.
“We’ve been waiting, as a the councilor said, a long time,” Woolfolk said. “And I’m hoping I’m still around when this is done.”
Woolfolk said the motel is significant because of its rich history and the lessons it can teach visitors.
Birmingham businessman A.G. Gaston opened the motel in July 1954.
“We’re going to reminisce about the past, but that’s only because the past is a springboard to a greater future,” Woolfolk said.
In addition to the its role in the civil rights movement, the motel was also a social gathering place for dinners, wedding receptions and celebrity performances.
Woodfin wants people to share their A.G. Gaston Motel memories by sending photos and other information to [email protected] by May 15.
No Kings protests: What to expect at Saturday’s marches around the country
This summer, organizers said more than 5 million people participated in No Kings protests against President Trump. Organizers say they expect an even bigger turnout this time around.
As they go unpaid, Capitol Police are a daily reminder for lawmakers of shutdown pain
The more than 2,000 officers on the force missed their first full paycheck Oct. 10, leaving them to go without pay at a moment when the officials they protect face growing threats and violence.
Does the sale of Dominion Voting Systems mean a transformation? Depends who’s asking
Dominion Voting Systems is at the heart of countless 2020 election conspiracy theories. The company has now been sold, and its new owner has shared contrasting messaging about how much will change.
After Zelenskyy meeting, Trump calls on Ukraine and Russia to ‘stop where they are’ and end the war
President Donald Trump on Friday called on Kyiv and Moscow to "stop where they are" and end their brutal war following a lengthy White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Shohei Ohtani hits 3 homers and strikes out 10 in Dodgers’ clinching 5-1 NLCS win over Brewers
Shohei Ohtani propelled the Los Angeles Dodgers back to the World Series with a two-way performance for the ages.
President Trump commutes the prison sentence of George Santos
The disgraced New York Republican was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a litany of federal charges, including wire fraud and identity theft.
