The first site designated as part of the national monument is the former Greyhound bus depot at 1031 Gurnee Avenue in Anniston, where, on May 14, 1961, a mob attacked an integrated group of white and black Freedom Riders who demanded an end to racial segregation in interstate busing.

[8][9] The National Park Service, in conjunction with the city of Anniston, has announced plans to develop the building and open it to the public, but as of May 2017 it was closed to visitors.

[10] The second site incorporated into the new national monument is that of the bus burning, located outside of Anniston along Old Birmingham Highway/State Route 202 some 6 miles (9.7 km) away from the Greyhound station.

[3][11] An Alabama Historical Marker, erected in 2007 under the auspices of the Theta Tau chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, marks the site of the bus burning.

Possible future features include a statue of Hank Thomas, a survivor of the incident, being given water by nearby resident Janie Forsythe.

[16] Others who supported its establishment included Senator Richard Shelby;[14] Representative Mike Rogers, who had introduced a bill to designate Freedom Riders National Historical Park in July 2016;[17] and governor Robert J.

[22] In March 2018, the Anniston City Council commissioned Jacksonville State University to conduct an economic impact study for the monument.