Statesville to Unveil Civil Rights Marker Honoring 1960 Sit-In Movement

The Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the City of Statesville, will host a public unveiling of a Civil Rights Marker recognizing the 1960 Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in and its local impact.

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 across North Carolina.

For generations, communities throughout 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 statewide, highlighting both widely recognized milestones and lesser-known local efforts that shaped the movement.

Statesville’s inclusion acknowledges the city’s role in the 1960 sit-in movement and affirms its place within 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 protests that helped shape both the local community and the nation.

The unveiling represents a collaborative effort supported by local civic, preservation, and business organizations.

Event Details:

What: Civil Rights Marker Unveiling & Open House

When: Thursday, February 26, 2026

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Unveiling ceremony promptly at 11:00 a.m.

Where:

Statesville Historical Collection

117 S. Center St.Statesville, NC 28677

The unveiling will take place on the sidewalk in front of the Collection.

The event is free and open to the public. Community members and media are encouraged to attend.