Twenty years ago, Washington, D.C., paused to respectfully remember the life of civil rights hero Rosa Parks. She laid in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, the first woman in the nation’s history recognized this way.
While most connect Mrs. Parks to Montgomery, Ala., she had a strong relationship with the District. The center of that activity was the iconic O Museum in the Mansion, where she formed a close friendship with its founder, H.H. Leonards.
On the 20th anniversary of her passing, Washington will once again reflect on Mrs. Parks’ belief in “quiet strength.” Her act of nonviolent defiance — refusing to give up her bus seat — ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott and transformed the course of the Civil Rights Movement.
Today, that legacy is being carried forward in new ways. Through “51 Steps to Freedom,” a free, nonprofit augmented reality tour of Washington, D.C., her example will be shared with the next generation.
Remembrance of Mrs. Rosa Parks and Why She Matters Today
- Unveiling of “Mrs. Parks at O Street Museum in the Mansion,” a new stop on “51 Steps to Freedom”
- Presentation of artifacts gifted to O Museum by Mrs. Jane Gunter, a fellow traveler on the historic bus on the day that changed history