Freedom Riders National Monument in Anniston, Alabama, was designated by President Barack Obama in 2017 to preserve two sites associated with the 1961 Freedom Rides — the former Greyhound Bus Station in Anniston and the site outside the city where a mob firebombed a Greyhound bus carrying Freedom Riders on May 14, 1961. The Freedom Riders were interracial groups of civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated South to challenge the non-enforcement of Supreme Court rulings that declared segregated public buses unconstitutional. The brutal attacks in Anniston and Birmingham generated national and international outrage and ultimately led the Interstate Commerce Commission to enforce desegregation of interstate travel facilities.
📚 Learn More at NPSHistory.com →Fire Island National Seashore in NY preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The interpretive materials at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
From the internal review records: “Three wayside panels developed for FRRI Bus Burn site. This site is where the Freedom Riders' bus was firebombed by an angry mob. Today, the site is an empty field next to a re-routed highway. On-site interpretation is needed to help visitors understand the site's significance, as outline in enabling legislation. The park is currently working in partnership with Calhoun County to install an interi...”
Why this matters: The civil rights history documented at Fire Island National Seashore is not a matter of opinion — it is the factual record of how Americans fought for the rights promised by our founding documents. These events occurred within living memory. The people who marched, sat in, and sacrificed are still alive to tell their stories.
Three wayside panels developed for FRRI Bus Burn site. This site is where the Freedom Riders' bus was firebombed by an angry mob. Today, the site is an empty field next to a re-routed highway. On-site interpretation is needed to help visitors understand the site's significance, as outline in enabling legislation. The park is currently working in partnership with Calhoun County to install an interim parking lot this summer. These wayside panels will be installed side by side in a tri-panel frame once that lot project is ready. Park and SER staff see no issues with the panels as written.
Fire Island National Seashore in NY preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The interpretive materials at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
Among the content targeted: “the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” — language that the administration has flagged for review under its directive to review historically accurate interpretive materials.
Why this matters: The specific language being targeted at Fire Island National Seashore — including “the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” — is historically accurate content developed by professional historians and park staff. When this language is revised or removed, visitors lose access to the documented record of what happened here.
The FRRI Greyhound Bus Depot is a fundamental resource in need of renovation. It is currently open to the public a few days a week, but that will end once construction begins. To provide a positive visitor experience and a place for the highly popular passport stamp, the NPS partners with the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce in Anniston. The Chamber provided space for the NPS to install a wall graphic and touch screen kiosk highlighting the park, providing interpretation and orientation. The kiosk is accessible 24 hours a day. In addition to touch screen and passport stamp, there is a park map showing how to reach disconnected sites. Uploaded here are the slides viewable on the touch screen. In keeping with SO3431, the content does focus on “the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.”
The project was developed via contract. This kiosk offers an interim solution while the NPS continues plans for building rehab and development of future exhibits.
Fire Island National Seashore in NY preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The exhibit panels at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
Among the content targeted: “the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” — language that the administration has flagged for review under its directive to review historically accurate interpretive materials.
Why this matters: The civil rights history documented at Fire Island National Seashore is not a matter of opinion — it is the factual record of how Americans fought for the rights promised by our founding documents. These events occurred within living memory. The people who marched, sat in, and sacrificed are still alive to tell their stories.
A construction project for the long-anticipated rehabilitation of the Greyhound Bus Depot has been steadily progressing over the las few years. Projected construction completion is in 2028. To meet the current visitor needs, the depot is serving in its current state with pre-existing exhibits to tell the story of the Freedom Riders. Additionally, rangers on site can augment the experiences of the visitors. This an interim solution while the NPS continues plans for building rehab and development of future exhibits.
The exhibit on display currently at the depot was designed as a traveling exhibit in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides and as a companion to the PBS documentary film Freedom Riders. This documentary was released in 2012, so the documentary (and likely the exhibit) likely predates the national monument by 5 years. They were temporary exhibits in the depot in the summer of 2021 and were permanently acquired by the NPS somewhere around 2022 or 2023. A segment of the film can be played in the depot on request from visitors to augment their experience.
Park staff think that the content does keep with SO3431 by focusing on "the greatness of the achi...
Fire Island National Seashore in NY preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The exhibit panels at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
Among the content targeted: “the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” — language that the administration has flagged for review under its directive to review historically accurate interpretive materials.
Why this matters: The specific language being targeted at Fire Island National Seashore — including “the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” — is historically accurate content developed by professional historians and park staff. When this language is revised or removed, visitors lose access to the documented record of what happened here.
This exhibit is in the alley next to the Greyhound Bus Depot (the current visitor center) and on the Mural building which will be the visitor center when renovations are completed. The exhibit is located outside and is available to the public day and night. The mural and exhibits predate the national monument, but the National Park Service helped with a replacement of the original interpretive panels at some point in the last few years. This exhibit is augmented by park staff and exhibits inside the depot when the depot is open. This mural is very popular with visitors and may remain after renovations are completed. At that time new exhibits may be available in the depot to even further augment the information.
Park staff think that the content does keep with SO3431 by focusing on "the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” The end of the exhibit highlights the importance of Joe Postiglione and his images in getting the story out to the American people. Another panel at the end talks about a reconciliation between a rider and a descendent of a rider at the 50th anniversary in 2011. While many visitors may prefer to not see some of the images in the ex...
Fire Island National Seashore in NY preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The visitor publications at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
Among the content targeted: “the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” — language that the administration has flagged for review under its directive to review historically accurate interpretive materials.
Why this matters: The civil rights history documented at Fire Island National Seashore is not a matter of opinion — it is the factual record of how Americans fought for the rights promised by our founding documents. These events occurred within living memory. The people who marched, sat in, and sacrificed are still alive to tell their stories.
This publication was created to explain the Freedom Riders. It is unclear when the publication was created, but some of the information is out of date. Park staff think that the content does keep with SO3431 by focusing on "the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” Staff recommends using up current supplies and deciding if an edit and reprint or ending the publication makes more sense when supplies run low.
Fire Island National Seashore in NY preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The visitor publications at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
From the internal review records: “Monument staff feels that the "park map" follows SO 3431 emphasizing the great achievments of America. There are some parts of the document that show old and outdated information. Specifically The condition of the Bus Burning Site and Geyhound Bus Depot need to be updated to reflect current status. Additonally there is a spelling error (the word "lastingt") in the Legacy of the Freedom Riders sect...”
Why this matters: The civil rights history documented at Fire Island National Seashore is not a matter of opinion — it is the factual record of how Americans fought for the rights promised by our founding documents. These events occurred within living memory. The people who marched, sat in, and sacrificed are still alive to tell their stories.
Monument staff feels that the “park map” follows SO 3431 emphasizing the great achievments of America. There are some parts of the document that show old and outdated information. Specifically The condition of the Bus Burning Site and Geyhound Bus Depot need to be updated to reflect current status. Additonally there is a spelling error (the word “lastingt”) in the Legacy of the Freedom Riders section. It is recommended to continue to use park maps and implement an edit before the next printing of park brochures.
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