Updated: July 3, 2026
Road Scholar is broadening its Civil Rights educational travel program with two new U.S. tours scheduled to begin in May 2027. The nonprofit organization, known for its educational travel experiences for adults aged 50 and older, says the new itineraries build on the success of its long-running Alabama and Georgia program while introducing travelers to additional locations that played defining roles in the Civil Rights Movement.
The expansion marks the 10th anniversary of Road Scholar’s first Civil Rights journey, which launched in 2017. The new programs focus on New Orleans, Louisiana, and a three-city route through Jackson, Memphis and Nashville, combining historical sites, local experts and cultural experiences to help participants better understand the events and people that shaped modern American history.
New Programs Mark a Decade of Civil Rights Learning
Road Scholar introduced its first Civil Rights educational tour in 2017, taking participants through key landmarks in Alabama and Georgia. Since then, the program has become one of the nonprofit’s best-known history-focused experiences.
The organization reported that nearly 550 people joined the original tour during 2025, reflecting growing interest in educational travel that goes beyond sightseeing. Instead of focusing only on famous attractions, the programs encourage participants to examine the historical events, personal stories and social movements connected to each destination.
Bookings are now available for both new itineraries as well as future departures of the original Alabama and Georgia program.
New Orleans Tour Explores History Through Music and Community
The first new itinerary, “Rhythm of Resistance: Civil Rights & Jazz in New Orleans,” examines how the city’s musical heritage and Civil Rights history developed alongside one another.
The program includes visits to Preservation Hall, where participants meet local musicians, the historic Tremé neighborhood, and the Whitney Plantation, a museum that presents the history of slavery through the experiences of enslaved people.
Road Scholar Program Operations Director Lindsey Temple said the itinerary was created to help travelers better understand how culture, music and community activism became closely connected in New Orleans.
The city has long ranked among the organization’s most popular destinations, making it a natural addition to its expanding Civil Rights portfolio.
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Three Southern Cities Tell Different Parts of the Civil Rights Story
The second itinerary, “The Civil Rights Movement in Jackson, Memphis & Nashville,” follows important milestones across three cities that each played distinct roles during the movement.
In Memphis, participants visit the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the former Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The museum documents key events in the struggle for civil rights across the United States.
Nashville’s itinerary includes the National Museum of African American Music, highlighting the influence of gospel, blues, jazz and other musical traditions on social change and cultural identity.
Stops in Jackson feature the Medgar Evers Home and the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, offering historical context about two individuals whose stories became pivotal moments in the fight against racial injustice.
Bobbie Duncan, representing the Center for Educational Adventure, Road Scholar’s program partner, said the experience is designed to connect historical events with the communities where they unfolded.
Educational Travel Continues to Attract Interest
Demand for heritage tourism has grown as more travelers seek experiences that provide historical context alongside cultural exploration. Programs built around expert lectures, museum visits and discussions with local historians offer a different approach from traditional sightseeing tours.
For many participants, understanding the locations where major historical events occurred adds perspective that cannot be gained from books or documentaries alone. By expanding into New Orleans, Jackson, Memphis and Nashville, Road Scholar is giving travelers access to additional places that helped shape the Civil Rights Movement and American history.
Those planning history-focused trips may also be interested in exploring America’s 250th anniversary celebrations and historic destinations taking place across the country.
Complete itineraries, departure schedules and booking details are available through the official Road Scholar website.
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