The Edmund Pettus Bridge, erected in 1939, spans the Alabama River in downtown Selma. Named for Edmund Winston Pettus, a former Confederate Brigadier General and U.S. Senator from Alabama, this bridge has transcended its original purpose to become a powerful symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. The bridge is etched into history as the site of the momentous Selma to Montgomery Marches and the infamous “Bloody Sunday.” On March 7, 1965, peaceful protesters attempting to march from Selma to Montgomery were met with brutal force by law enforcement on this very bridge.
The shocking violence of that day, broadcasted across the nation, galvanized support for the civil rights cause and was instrumental in the passage of the U.S. Voting Rights Act of 1965. In recognition of its profound historical significance, the Edmund Pettus Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 2013. It is also an integral part of The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, administered by the National Park Service. It is expected to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the near future.
