The Emanuel Nine Memorial opens to the public at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, with a free ribbon-cutting. Calhoun Street closes 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; here is where to park.

The Emanuel Nine Memorial opens to the public on Saturday, Nov. 14. A free ribbon-cutting ceremony starts at 9 a.m. beside Mother Emanuel AME Church on Calhoun Street.

The memorial honors the nine church members killed during Bible study at the church on June 17, 2015, and the five survivors. The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation announced the ceremony on Oct. 14. “Admission is free and all are welcome,” it said.

The foundation said the day will include:

  • a ribbon-cutting ceremony
  • presentations honoring the lives and legacies of the Emanuel Nine
  • live gospel and jazz music and poetry throughout the event
  • the first chance for the public to walk the memorial grounds

Visitors “will be among the first members of the public to walk the memorial grounds, learn the stories of the Emanuel Nine, and spend time in a place created for reflection, remembrance, healing, and hope,” Executive Director Deona Smith said in the invitation.

Getting there

Calhoun Street will be closed to traffic. The city’s road closures list shows it closed between Meeting and Anson streets from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. that Saturday.

The foundation asks visitors to park at:

  • the lot on Henrietta Street
  • the city garage at the Gaillard Center on Alexander Street
  • the Marion Square garage on King Street

The invitation gives the memorial’s address as 120 Calhoun St. The church is at 110 Calhoun St. For other ways downtown, see our getting around Charleston guide, which covers city garages and the move to ParkMobile.

What the memorial is

The memorial stands on the church grounds. Its designer is Michael Arad, who also designed the National September 11 Memorial in New York. The foundation’s project team page names Handel Architects as architect. Ground was broken in 2023.

The foundation’s design overview describes three parts:

  • The Memorial Courtyard. Two high-backed fellowship benches face each other and “arc up and around like sheltering wings.” Between them sits a marble fountain with the names of the Emanuel Nine carved around its edge. Water flows from a cross-shaped source over the names.
  • The Contemplation Basin. An opening between the benches reveals a cross above a simple altar, a quiet place for thought and prayer.
  • The Survivors’ Garden. A pathway from the courtyard leads to a lawn ringed by six stone benches and five trees. The trees stand for the five survivors; the sixth bench signifies that the church is also a survivor.
An architectural model of the Emanuel Nine Memorial courtyard seen from above, with two long curved white benches facing each other and an oval fountain marked with a cross between them, in front of a model of the church.
A model of the Memorial Courtyard: the two fellowship benches and the fountain between them. Photo: Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation.

The shooting remains the deadliest mass shooting in South Carolina’s history, the foundation’s history page says. The City of Charleston gave $2 million toward construction and programs in 2021.

Visiting after the opening

The foundation’s visiting page lists hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Those were set for the memorial preview, which has stood on the site since spring 2023. The foundation has not yet said whether the hours change after Nov. 14. Questions go to info@emanuelnine.org.

What it means for you

  • Go if you want to: the ceremony is free and open to everyone, at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.
  • Do not drive onto Calhoun Street between Meeting and Anson streets from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day. Park on Henrietta Street, at the Gaillard Center garage or at the Marion Square garage.
  • Other closures that week, including the Veterans Day parade on Nov. 8 and Food & Wine Classic closures on Ann Street, are on our road closures page. More events are in things to do this weekend.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Emanuel Nine Memorial open?

The memorial opens to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, beside Mother Emanuel AME Church on Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston. Admission is free.

Where should I park for the Emanuel Nine Memorial opening?

The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation suggests the lot on Henrietta Street, the city garage at the Gaillard Center on Alexander Street and the Marion Square garage on King Street. Calhoun Street is closed to traffic.

Is Calhoun Street closed for the Emanuel Nine Memorial opening?

Yes. The city’s road closures list shows Calhoun Street closed between Meeting and Anson streets from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.