Rosa Parks' Historic Bus Open for Public Experience

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks sat in the 'colored' section of a Montgomery bus. The first four rows of seats on each Montgomery bus were reserved for whites. Buses had 'colored' sections for black people generally in the rear of the bus, although blacks composed more than 75% of the ridership. The sections were not fixed but were determined by placement of a movable sign. Black people could sit in the middle rows until the white section filled. If more whites needed seats, blacks were to move to seats in the rear, stand, or, if there was no room, leave the bus. Black people could not sit across the aisle in the same row as white people. The driver could move the 'colored' section sign, or remove it altogether. If white people were already sitting in the front, black people had to board at the front to pay the fare, then disembark and reenter through the rear door.