DAVENPORT — A celebratory event to unveil the Davenport Civil Rights Walking Tour will start at 4:30 p.m. April 18 in the parking lot of St. Anthony Catholic Church.
Participants will recreate the 1963 march from St. Anthony’s parking lot at Fourth and Main streets to the rally at the LeClaire Park Bandshell along Davenport’s riverfront.
The Davenport Civil Rights Commission, in partnership with St. Ambrose University and the Putnam Museum, unveiled the Davenport Civil Rights History Exhibit at the Putnam in January 2010. The history project includes the civil rights walking tour that is comprised of seven sites at which historic civil rights events occurred in Davenport in the 1950s and ‘60s.
The walking tour sites are: Charles and Ann Toney’s former home at 1010 Western Ave.; the site of the former Toney’s Barber and Beauty Shop, southwest corner of 11th and Ripley Streets; the site of the former Colonial Fountain, northeast corner of Harrison and 12th streets; St. Anthony’s Church, Fourth and Main streets; the site of the former Natatorium, 104 S. Main St.; LeClaire Park Bandshell, 400 W. Beiderbecke Drive; and Cook’s Point, West River Drive between Schmidt and Howell streets.
The remembrance celebration will include music, cookies and strawberry soda. In the event of flooding, the celebration will be held in St. Anthony’s parking lot.
For more information, contact the Davenport Civil Rights Commission at (563) 326-7888.
