The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in downtown Greensboro has just passed a major hurdle toward becoming designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a classification that includes the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty as well as about two dozen other sites of “universal significance” around the country
Museum staff and others in the community have been pushing for the designation that they say would really draw attention to the museum and bring in tourists from all over the world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site designation distinguishes places from ordinary tourist destinations and causes a lot of people to put those sites on their travel bucket lists.
A national Sit-In Movement began at the Woolworth’s building – now the museum – on Feb. 1, 1960, after four NC A&T freshmen sat at the whites-only lunch counter and were refused service.
The museum still has a lot of work to do to earn that much-coveted UNESCO designation, however, this week, backers of the plan were delighted that the project took a big step in the right direction.
Museum CEO John Swaine made the announcement in a press release on Wednesday, May 15.
“After a lengthy and rigorous process,” he wrote, “we are thrilled to share exciting news regarding the F.W. Woolworth’s building in Greensboro. We are delighted to announce that the Landmarks Committee of the National Park Service has unanimously granted approval for the advancement of our beloved building to the next decision stages of approval as a National Historic Landmark. This is the highest level of recognition for a landmark site in the United States.”
Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston, a co-founder of the museum, was also thrilled.
“This is a great accomplishment for the museum, the city and county and North Carolina,” Alston said the day after the news was announced. “Remember that this building was scheduled to be torn down to make room for a parking lot before me and Earl Jones saved it. Look at where we are now!”
Alston said that, in the 1990s, the building was owned by a bank, which planned to tear it down until there was an effort to save it.
In the press release, Swain said the achievement was a testament to the dedication and hard work of all involved in the important task of preserving “the historical fabric and civil rights significance” of the building.
He went on to say “The F.W. Woolworth’s landmark holds a special place in our North Carolina Triad community’s heart, symbolizing resilience, enlightenment, moderation, and a spirit of human belonging.”
The decision by the federal committee now makes the museum eligible to be included on the Tentative List for consideration as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Alston said the museum made the application to become a World Heritage Site about seven years ago and added that the goal is still several years away.
“I think the process usually takes about 10 years,” Alston said.
Swain said all of those people who’ve been moving the project forward need to continue to be “steadfast in our efforts” to ensure that this “site of conscience receives the recognition it deserves on the world stage.”
Will this allow the taxpayers to stop carrying the debt???
Oh boy, can hardly wait! I’m sure it will be better than the Grand Canyon.
The earlier Museum story touted the significant economic benefit that would result from the tourism. I believe they said it “would pay for the project many times over”. Forgetting for the moment that Matt Brown, who was for years the Coliseum Director, also used to tout the “economic benefits” from the Coliseum but that he always needed additional taxpayer infusions every year he claimed to be providing those benefits, I note that “Alston said the museum made the application to become a World Heritage Site about seven years ago and added that the goal is still several years away. I think the process usually takes about 10 years,” If that is so, there should be no need for “forgivable” loans, since they should be easily repaid from the “economic benefits” in three or four years. But I will believe it when I see it…
Racist BS.
“The F.W. Woolworth’s landmark holds a special place in our North Carolina Triad community’s heart, symbolizing resilience, enlightenment, moderation, and a spirit of human belonging.”
What a crock! No it doesn’t. Not even to the black community. They laugh about it being a money pit. If this actually goes through, and God willing, it doesn’t, that’s just more money for Skip away with the money Alston to put in his personal pockets. Every single person in Guilford County knows what Skip is. It’s not the first time he’s taken money from that ‘museum’ and it won’t be the last. He doesn’t care about it at all. He only cares about the money. They had to force Guilford County Schools to do field trips there and ask any kid who’s been… They say it’s boring and they don’t want to go back. They want to tear down our statues and erase our southern history but shove this forcefully on everyone else. What a joke. He’s not even brave enough to admit they aren’t getting any visitors to the place and that’s why they’re pushing to have it so designated. They need the money. Hate to tell you Skip along, but it’s not gonna bring any visitors! There are several of these same museums in other states. Nobody is gonna travel here for this one. It’s a money pit. It’s a failure. Shut it down and move on. Move all the stuff to the Greensboro museum that people actually do visit willingly. Stop shoving your pit down our throats and everyone else’s cause you’re money hungry. If you truly, truly cared about Greensboro and Guilford County, you’d stop your shenanigans with taking money and using people and buying votes. Grow up!