Norfolk Southern donation supports expansion at National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Norfolk Southern is contributing $500,000 to support a 24,000-square-foot expansion at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which will introduce new galleries, interactive exhibits, and educational spaces.

The donation expands Norfolk Southern’s commitment to its headquarters’ city of Atlanta. In 2024, the company invested nearly $6 million in Atlanta-area organizations and initiatives focusing on safety, sustainability, workforce development, and thriving communities.

“At Norfolk Southern, we believe in the power of community, education, and advocacy,” said Kristin Wong, Norfolk Southern Community Impact Director. “Our partnership with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights reflects that commitment. We look forward to seeing how these enhanced spaces will inspire visitors and deepen the understanding of civil rights history.”

The Center is currently closed for construction as it undergoes its expansion.  As part of this commitment, Norfolk Southern was granted naming rights for the Freedom Room—a dedicated classroom within the Shirley Clarke Franklin Pavilion. This space will engage visitors in civil and human rights education.

Opened in 2014, the museum houses exhibitions featuring the papers and artifacts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the history of the U.S. civil rights movement, and global human rights stories. New features of the project will include advanced learnings spaces, hands-on experiences, collaborative space and immersive exhibits.  

Through its Foundation, Norfolk Southern has for decades invested in the communities where it operates, including nonprofits that focus on educational, cultural, environmental, and human services opportunities.