MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Get a better understand of the roads and places where marches took place and the impact of the Civil Rights Movement. The Rutherford County Archaeological Society presents a free public meeting at 2:00 o'clock this coming Sunday afternoon (4/19/2026) in Maney Hall at Oaklands Mansion, 901 Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro. The featured speaker is award winning historian Robbie D. Jones, M.A. The topic is “We’re Gonna March”. Archeological Society Founder and Director Laura Bartel told WGNS, "This Sunday’s presentation, “We’re Gonna March: Civil Rights March Routes as Linear Resources,” explores road and places where many of us drive past every day without realizing the history beneath our wheels...roadways that once served as battlegrounds for equality."
Jones’ research looks at march routes not just as paths from point A to point B, but as cultural landscapes that witnessed courage, violence, hope, and transformation. In his words, the streets and highways of the 1950s and 60s became “battlefields--often bloody and sometimes deadly,” where ordinary Americans risked their freedom and their lives to demand equal rights. He notes that these routes are considered sacred ground by many who understand the sacrifices made along them.
Jones' presentation will walk attendees through how historians and preservationists identify, document, and evaluate the march routes so they can be protected and commemorated. Case studies span the country—from Alabama to California, Kentucky to Maryland, New York to Tennessee—showing how widespread and interconnected the movement truly was.
For local residents, the topic resonates deeply. Middle Tennessee has its own Civil Rights history, and gatherings that help us to better understand how national movements shaped our communities and the roads we travel every day.
If you’ve ever wondered how historians piece together the stories behind familiar landscapes, this is a Sunday afternoon worth circling on the calendar.
The Rutherford County Archaeological Society invites everyone to come early, enjoy refreshments, and settle in for a compelling look at the roads that carried a movement. The presentation will take place in Maney Hall at Oaklands Mansion, 901 N. Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro. Doors open at 1:30PM with the program at 2:00PM. Again, admission is FREE!
