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B M & T ••• September/October 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 50 AREA GUIDES A L A B A M A SWEET HOME ALABAMA, THE CIVIL RIGHTS CAPITOL OF THE NATION: CREATING A HISTORICAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ATTENDEES B Y R U F U S M C K I N N E Y Alabama is a state with a rich and fas- cinating history. From the prehistoric cul- tures that lived in the state to the battles fought on its soil, Alabama history and its impact on the present are full of learning opportunities. Here, you can relive history and learn about it all as you experience the wonder of the state's many historical sites. Few states have a history that is as rich as Alabama. It's the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, and many of its most important moments took place in the state. From the Freedom Riders jour- neying into the South to Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus, the Alabama Civil Rights Movement changed the country forever. Planners looking to hold their meeting in an environment surrounded by so much rich African-American history can look no further. Sweet Home Alabama has got you covered. • • BIRMINGHAM • • Birmingham is known as the "Dinner Table of the South." From the country's best barbecue to global dishes with the influence of the American South, Birmingham's dining scene is one to rel- ish. A talented and energetic music com- munity entertains in clubs and music ven- ues all around the area. Birmingham was Ground Zero for the American Civil Rights Movement, now drawing visitors from around the world to immerse them- selves in the historic events. The Birmingham-Jefferson Conven- tion Complex (BJCC) is Alabama's largest convention address, with meeting facilities all on one campus. The BJCC complex campus has 350,000 square feet of convention and exhibition space. The complex includes an 18,000-seat arena and 4,000 seats in two theaters. Two hotels, The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel and Westin Birmingham, are also part of the complex. The complex also includes Uptown entertainment district and Topgolf. The new 45,000-capacity seat Protective Stadium was completed in 2021. The greater Birmingham area has plen- ty to see and do after your meetings. Several entertainment districts around have clusters of restaurants, nightspots and breweries that invite visitors to inves- tigate and enjoy. Adjacent to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, UPTOWN is a dis- trict that attracts locals and convention visitors to enjoy a variety of restaurants. Texas de Brazil, Casey's Sports Grill and The Southern Kitchen & Bar are just the beginning. Other eateries and bars serve up everything from gourmet burgers and pizza to custom cocktails and from crop to cup coffee at Santos Coffee Farmers. Convention guests like the convenience of the district to their meeting and lodging facilities. Locals like the conviviality of the crowd and the ease of moving from one location to the next. Be sure to give Sr. Vice President Convention Sales and Servicing Staff Mike Gunn a call if you are planning to bring a conference to Birmingham. He and his team will provide you with all the support you need. The story of Birmingham's role in the long march to civil rights has been told and retold around the world. With the opening of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in 1993, the city found a place to tell its own story. Though the events of the 1960s steal the spotlight, the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham and Alabama evolved from a complex history of race relations in the American South. Richly detailed exhibits in the Institute reveal slices of Black and white life from the late 1800s to the present. A series of gal- leries tells the stories of daily life for African Americans in Alabama and the nation and how it differed dramatically from the lives white people of that era took for granted. • • MOBILE • • Mobile has a certain magic that keeps you on your toes. Where a melting pot of • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Sheraton Birmingham 838 Westin Birmingham 294 Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa 258 EXHIBITION FACILITIES The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Total Space 350,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 220,685 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 37,226 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 90 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Greater Birmingham CVB (800) 458-8085 www.birminghamal.org Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Exterior photo credit: BJCC