As you head deeper into Alabama (heading West) along Highway 80, you find yourself in the thick of Civil Rights history. The road between Montgomery and Selma is where marks the route that protesters took to Montgomery in March of 1965 to gain their right to vote. The caravan attempted this trip 3 times, the first ending in blood shed (Bloody Sunday). It wasn’t until the 3rd attempt,3,000 people strong, that the marchers along with MLK made the 54 mile trip to Montgomery, safe and unharmed. The route itself is denoted with Historic sign markers.
The success of the march and consequent negative light on Alabama for how it treated the protesters, prompted President Johnson to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
St. James Inn in Selma- fully restored
Selma today is a small, compact albeit empty town consisting of only 20k people. The economy has beat up hard on this town, many blocks have empty or abandoned buildings and some blocks are void of any human traces. There is a strong presence of sculptural butterflies dotted through out the town painted in an assortment of colors and flavors. 
But the strong history of Selma and it’s importance to the Civil Rights story shouldn’t keep this town down for long.
Church in Selma
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