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Bridge · Selma, Alabama
Edmund Pettus Bridge
1940 steel bridge over the Alabama River where voting-rights marchers were attacked on Bloody Sunday in March 1965. It is a national historic landmark.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Edmund Pettus Bridge
The Edmund Pettus Bridge opened in 1940 to carry US-80 over the Alabama River at Selma’s eastern exit. The steel arch and the name painted at the top became known worldwide because of the events of March 1965.
On Sunday, March 7, about 600 marchers left Brown Chapel to walk to Montgomery and demand voting rights for Black people, who faced barriers and intimidation in Alabama. On the bridge they were attacked by police wielding batons and tear gas. The images, broadcast on television, pressured the federal government.
Two weeks later, under court protection, the march crossed the bridge and reached Montgomery in five days. In August 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed.
The bridge can be crossed on foot via the sidewalk. At the city end of the bridge, panels and a small garden commemorate the marchers.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 30 minutes to an hour, walking across.
Best time
Early, with the sun rising behind the arch, or at sunset. In early March the annual commemoration fills the bridge.
How to get there
It sits at the end of Broad Street, the main street of downtown Selma, and is within walking distance of downtown.
Tip
Cross in the direction of the march, leaving the city, to see the arch as the marchers did. The sidewalk is narrow: be mindful of traffic.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Edmund Pettus Bridge
Can you walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge?
Yes, on the sidewalk, in both directions. The crossing takes only a few minutes.
What happened on the Edmund Pettus Bridge?
On March 7, 1965, marchers advocating voting rights were attacked by police on the bridge in the event known as Bloody Sunday.
Who was Edmund Pettus?
A 19th-century Confederate general and U.S. senator from Alabama.