Old Galilee Baptist Church (Shreveport, Louisiana)

African American Civil Rights Network

Old Galilee Baptist Church, located in Shreveport, Louisiana, was built in 1877 by formerly enslaved African Americans. At one time the church was the main hub for the African American Civil Rights movement in Shreveport and served as a non-violent meeting place for adults and children. Old Galilee taught children how to integrate peacefully into Caddo Parish Schools.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the church twice. In 1958, he gave his famous "Speech at Galilee", which is thought to be the first of his speeches to be recorded.

Old Galilee Baptist Church became part of the African American Civil Rights Network in 2023.

The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. African American Civil Rights Movement through a collection of public and private resources to include properties, facilities, and programs.