During one of the most defining times in the country's history, Atlanta was a center, if not the epicenter, of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of the men and women who made history fighting for equality around the country lived in Atlanta during the time, and countless others came through the city to work with Atlanta-based organizations. Yet so little of that history is easily accessible today. Yes, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site anchors Sweet Auburn, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a great new resource. But many other sites that have served as the backdrop for so much history have been relegated to the oblivion, some in various states of decay. Fear not! Tom Houck, a friend of several civil rights icons, has started giving three-hour tours of some of the lesser-known but still-important locations. His hope: to bringing awareness to the sites and their stories. The AJC tagged along last week to see what the fuss is all about, running a feature on the subject this past weekend. After the jump, find a handy map with some locations (most of them in sad shape) featured on the new tour.

· Landmark neglect on the new civil rights tour [AJC; subscriber]
· About the Tour [Civil Rights Tour]