Discover Atlanta’s Stop on The U.S. Civil Rights Trail

By Taylor Boser

Published February 27, 2025

The U.S. Civil Rights Trail now includes a historic stop in Atlanta: The Madame C.J. Walker Museum and WERDStudio. Located in the Sweet Auburn district, the museum and studio pay tribute to the history and legacy of Black icons.

Madame C.J. Walker was the first female self-made millionaire in the U.S. After suffering from hair loss, she developed a line of cosmetics and hair care products for Black women. Several of her beauty tools are housed in the museum, which is an original Madame C.J. Walker beauty shop from the 1950s.

The National Women’s History Museum notes that she used her position to advocate for the advancement of Black Americans and for an end to lynching. Further, according to the Women’s History Museum, Walker contributed to the YMCA and covered tuition for six African American students at Tuskegee Institute. She bequeathed two-thirds of future net profits to charity, as well as thousands of dollars to various individuals and schools.

WERDStudio was the nation’s first Black-owned radio station, which began broadcasting in 1949. The station shared news and information about civil rights events, promoted Black-owned businesses, featured gospel music programs and eventually added jazz, blues and R&B music. Many of thousands of records in the museum were aired on WERD.

Ricci de Forest, owner and operator of the museum, provides a wealth of knowledge, which he shares during tours. Attendees are educated on the legacy of Madame Walker and the impact of Black music during that time period.

The museum hours are:

Mondays: Closed

Tuesdays: 12 to 4 p.m.

Wednesdays: 12 to 4 p.m.

Thursdays: 12 to 4 p.m.

Fridays: 12 to 4 p.m.

Saturdays: 12 to 3 p.m.

Sundays: 12 to 3 p.m.

Since its inception in 2018, the U.S. Civil Rights Trail has documented and preserved locations where activists challenged racial segregation in the 1950s and 1960s, connecting these historical landmarks of history across the American South and beyond. The official Washington, D.C., partnership and these new sites reinforce the trail’s historical significance and educational impact.

A Chicago transplant, Taylor loves exploring what makes Atlanta the place to be. Name a popular festival, food hall or brewery to check out and she will be there.