Renovation of the Lorraine Motel Permanent Exhibits

FAIN: GI-50506-12

Lorraine Civil Rights Museum (Memphis, TN 38103-4214)
Barbara Andrews (Project Director: January 2012 to June 2014)

Implementation of a new 14,500-square-foot permanent exhibition on the history of African American efforts to gain freedom and equality and the interpretation of the Lorraine Motel historic site at the National Civil Rights Museum.

The Lorraine Civil Rights Museum Foundation, dba National Civil Rights Museum, has embarked upon its first-ever major renovation project, the cornerstone of which is the renovation of aging, yet still powerful original static exhibits that in 1991 was one of the first to examine the comprehensive three century history of America's civil rights movement through then current scholarship and state-of-the-art techniques. Outdoor exhibits will be added to provide contextual content on Memphis and this historic site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the assassinated for museum visitors and for those who view the site. These 20-year old permanent exhibit will be completely renovated with new design, interpretation based upon new scholarship since the museum opened and new technology. The current episodic timeline and iconic 3-dimensional elements, such as the Montgomery Bus and Sit-In Lunch counter will be retained. Our exhibits will be more engaging, less dense and more interactive.