PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF SOUTH DALLS: Our Story
The Dallas Civil Rights Museum is more than a museum. It’s the story of our neighborhood and a way for all of us to keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream moving forward in real life.
How We Started
The Dallas Civil Rights Museum was born from the powerful curiosity of our community's youth. In 2013, a historic bus tour sponsored by South Dallas's own Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center took 30 local students to follow the footsteps of the 1961 Freedom Riders across the segregated South. Immersed in the history of resistance, sacrifice, and triumph, these young people returned to Texas with a profound question: Why didn't a city as great as Dallas have a Civil Rights Museum of its own?
Determined to answer that call, visionary founders Dr. Jerry Chambers and Mrs. Lois Lilly partnered with legendary community champion Emma Rodgers—co-owner of the beloved, historic Black Images Book Bazaar. Together with local leaders and the City of Dallas, they transformed a shared dream into reality. On January 15, 2014—what would have been Dr. King’s 85th birthday—the museum officially opened its doors inside the MLK, Jr. Community Center, right here in the heart of South Dallas.
Today, the museum stands as a beacon of heritage and truth, housing permanent, student-created exhibits that trace our journey from the Transatlantic slave trade and the Civil Rights Movement to the local history makers of Dallas, Texas. We invite you to step inside, discover the rich legacy of Black excellence and activism, and carry the torch forward. As our motto reminds us: “If you are going to be the voice of history, you must know it.”
Our Promise
We don't just work in Dallas, we live here. We grew up here. And we care about the South Dallas community and our City’s heritage and legacy. DCRM is a place where everyone should feel safe and welcome to visit. Our goal is to highlight the greatness of the African American people and the richness our local history’s impact on shaping civil rights for all Americans.
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Take the Next Step—Book Your Group Tour
Visit the Dallas Civil Rights Museum today. Schedule your visit, purchase tickets in advance, and find out what to expect during your experience.