City of Tuscaloosa Holds Ribbon Cutting for Linton's Barbershop Plaza
October 21, 2026
The City of Tuscaloosa held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Linton's Barbershop Plaza on Wednesday, October 21, at 10 a.m.
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, Councilor Joseph Eatmon and Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History &
Reconciliation Foundation Co-President Tim Lewis spoke during the ceremony.
"Too often, we see efforts to overlook or forget the history that helped shape our country," said Mayor Walt Maddox. "The City of Tuscaloosa has chosen to stand in the gap. We are committed to remembering our history, celebrating it and ensuring its lessons endure. By honoring our history, we honor the people who changed our community for the better. Reverend Linton's legacy continues to make Tuscaloosa stronger, and today we celebrate that."
Reverend Thomas Linton devoted the last 40 years of his life to preserving the history of Bloody Tuesday and the broader Civil Rights movement. He transformed his barbershop into a living museum, filled with memories and documents that educated hundreds of visitors and school children.
"Today is an opportunity to recognize leaders in our community," said Councilor Joe Eatmon. "It's an opportunity to provide a space where future leaders in our community can meet and have those conversations that were once had in this barbershop."
The Linton family sold the land where the barbershop once stood to the City, with the hope that it would continue to honor the courage and sacrifice of our Civil Rights foot soldiers. They also entrusted the entirety of Reverend Linton's Civil Rights artifacts to the Civil Rights Foundation.
"This is step one towards making a bigger statement here in Tuscaloosa, having a place where we can show all of the things Reverend Linton collected that talked about the movement, but also talked about the history of Tuscaloosa," said Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History & Reconciliation Foundation Co-President Tim Lewis.
Linton’s Barbershop Plaza features an art installation by renowned artist Caleb O’Connor representing the barbershop with a relief of Reverend Linton. The $1.4 million Elevate Tuscaloosa investment also includes story panels detailing major milestones in Tuscaloosa’s Civil Rights history, and a central walkway with a timeline. Construction on the plaza, located at 1305 T.Y. Rogers Jr. Avenue, began in 2025.