Restoration of A.G. Gaston Motel now underway
The restoration of the iconic A.G. Gaston Motel, which served as a headquarters for those fighting oppression during the Civil Rights Movement, has officially begun.
On Wednesday, city leaders, national parks representatives and citizens were on hand to commemorate the historic occasion. According to Council President Valerie Abbott, “This has been a very long time coming. This was being discussed when I first joined the Council 17 years ago. I’m beyond happy to see this finally moving forward,” Abbott said to those gathered in the parking lot of the motel.
The restoration will take place in three separate phases, with the conceptual mock-up phase currently underway lasting until summer 2019. During that time, details such as original window replicas, wood panelling restoration and other key components will be identified and included in the plan. The next phase will be the full restoration of the outside structure and the final phase will focus on the interior. The full restoration is expected to be done in the summer of 2021.
“A.G. Gaston often spoke about the need to use our resources responsibly, saying those resources are, ‘no good unless it contributes something to the community and builds a bridge to a better life,’” Woodfin said. “He used his resources to invest in this community and the movement, allowing us to have the privilege to stand here today…This is a sight of freedom that changed our city, our nation and the world.”
As a way to better illustrate the profound impact the A.G. Gaston Motel has had on the culture and legacy of Birmingham’s role in fighting for civil rights, people are encouraged to send pictures, letters or stories from their own experience at the motel to Gastonstories@birminghamal.gov.
The city has contributed $10 million toward the restoration which will eventually be an interactive look into one of Birmingham’s most historic places.
“This is one of our city’s crown jewels,” Woodfin said. “The A.G. Gaston Motel will continue to stand as a monument to change. In 1963 A.G. Gaston provided discounted rooms and resources to Dr. King and other civil rights leaders. Room 30, which is just above us, served as the headquarters for the movement. We are charged with the responsibility of upholding that legacy and sharing their stories with the world.”
In January of 2017, just before leaving office, former President Barack Obama signed a proclamation in designating the motel and the surrounding civil rights district as a national monument. Dr. Barbara Taggart, the acting superintendent for Birmingham’s Civil Rights National Monument,
“We want to honor the countless people that had such a huge impact as well as those who sacrificed their lives. We should never forget them,” Taggart said. “In my three days here so far I’ve been reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King. He wrote it while he sat in the Birmingham jail. ‘Freedom is not readily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed. This is what we try to do here: commemorate those who were demanding their freedom to vote, eat a restaurant and to be recognized as citizens of these United States of America…We will present their stories to the world.”
