Statesville to Unveil Civil Rights Marker Honoring 1960 Sit-In

Statesville, NC — The Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the City of Statesville, will host a public unveiling of a Civil Rights Marker honoring the 1960 Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in.

The marker was secured through an application to the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission as part of its statewide initiative to identify and physically mark sites critical to the Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina.

For generations, communities across the state have used public spaces to organize, protest, and advance civil rights. Through this initiative, the commission aims to place 50 markers in counties across North Carolina, highlighting both well-known and lesser-known civil rights efforts.

Statesville’s inclusion recognizes the local impact of the 1960 sit-in movement and affirms the city’s place in North Carolina’s broader Civil Rights history.

The ceremony will take place at the Statesville Historical Collection, home to the recreated Woolworth’s counter exhibit. The exhibit commemorates the courage of those who participated in the peaceful protest movement that helped shape the community — and the nation.