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Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, and is equal components historic and exquisite. Nestled on the banks of the Alabama River, the capital wears its previous on its sleeve: recognized for its legacy with the Civil Rights Motion, Southern hospitality, nightlife, and museums, you possibly can be sure you discover loads of issues to do in Montgomery AL.
This can be a place the place murals burst with coloration, the place riverwalks are made for golden-hour strolls, and the meals scene dishes up a plate even the fussiest eater can’t flip down.
Montgomery is gradual paced and chances are you’ll marvel the place all of the individuals are, however don’t let that idiot you, there are tons of cool sights to take a look at. Benefit from the house and take time to have a look at the ginormous authorities buildings – I’ve by no means seen something prefer it earlier than!
Come able to mirror, and able to uncover greater than you bargained for, as a result of Montgomery doesn’t simply inform America’s story; it continues to put in writing it.
1. Go to the Freedom Rides Museum
Montgomery is the place Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat and started the boycott motion. It’s the place Dr. Martin Luther King rose as a pacesetter of that motion. It was the place the flame for the African American folks was ignited. It was the place that caused change to make the world a greater place.
So should you’re visiting the Alabama capital, you then had higher be sure that to go to the Freedom Rides Museum, which supplies a superb perception into the courageous peaceable protest of the Freedom Riders and is advised by means of a sequence of artworks, shows, and biographies of key leaders and gamers inside the motion.
This museum is on the positioning of the unique Greyhound Bus Station the place the assault on the Freedom Riders occurred. This rehabilitated bus station has been restored to the way it appeared in 1961 and is the positioning of the assault on Freedom Riders after they arrived on the station on Might 20, 1961.
The Freedom Riders have been a bunch of blacks and whites who determined to peacefully trip the buses collectively from Washington DC to New Orleans in protest towards the segregation that was occurring on interstate bus rides. They have been ready to satisfy mob violence with non-violence and braveness. They ready farewell letters and wills.
Their purpose was to assist finish racial segregation in public transportation. They have been attacked as soon as they reached the Greyhound bus station in Montgomery after which solely made it so far as Jackson earlier than they have been arrested and despatched to jail for 40 days for breaking segregation legal guidelines.
Our information, Dorothy, was extraordinarily passionate concerning the museum. Her tales helped us perceive extra of what occurred throughout this era of the Civil Rights Motion. I totally loved her tour of the museum. Additionally they have a scavenger hunt for the youngsters to assist them higher perceive the museum.
2. Take a tour of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
Our tour of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church was considered one of our favourite excursions in Montgomery. The Dexter Avenue Baptist Church was in-built 1883 and shortly turned an essential worship and assembly place for the African neighborhood.
The previous purple brick constructing with views out to the State Capitol feels very symbolic when you think about what the neighborhood inside this church was in a position to obtain within the metropolis that was recognized to be the Cradle of the Confederacy, born from these Capitol steps the Church overlooks.
The Dexter Avenue Baptist Church is the place Martin Luther King Jr. had his first and solely pastor expertise from 1954 to 1959. It was the place he was acknowledged locally as an enigmatic chief and was chosen to steer the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which launched him as a Civil Rights chief.
The tour is improbable, principally attributable to our information, Wanda who shared the spirit of King and the motion by means of her songs, and phrases of affection and pleasure, peace and unity. Our ladies cherished it.
Contained in the Church, you get to see Dr. King’s workplace the place he wrote lots of his speeches and sermons and stand behind the precise pulpit he stood behind when he gave his well-known How Lengthy Not Lengthy speech.
You may worship with the congregation on Sundays at 10:30. I’d like to expertise it. I can solely think about the love, hope and sense of neighborhood that lives inside that church service.
3. Go to the Dexter Avenue Parsonage Museum
Do you wish to see the house that Dr. Martin Luther King and his household lived in throughout his years as a pastor on the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church? This modest however cute clapboard cottage is in Centennial Hill, which was as soon as a vibrant middle-class African suburb.
The Dexter Parsonage Museum is the place earlier pastors of the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church used to reside. It’s additionally the place Martin Luther King Jr. and his household lived between 1954 and 1960.
You’ll get to see the crater within the porch left over from when his home was bombed and expertise the tales of his life inside the partitions the place they occurred.
A most poignant a part of the tour is the kitchen the place Dr King obtained steerage from inside to not stop on the dream once we have been most afraid and troubled over it, however to maintain standing up for justice.
The everlasting assortment within the Interpretive Heart of the museum incorporates pictures and a timeline of the 12 Dexter pastors who lived right here in addition to inspiring quotes from their Pastoral Knowledge.
It’s also possible to see unpublished images of Dr. King and former members of the Montgomery ministers who have been lively within the bus boycott motion.
There’s additionally the Kings-John backyard, which you should utilize as reflection on what you’ve discovered from the museum.
4. Mirror on the Civil Rights Memorial Heart
The Civil Rights Memorial is the perfect place to go to after you’ve got seen the opposite Civil Rights Path experiences. There’s a lovely memorial out the entrance, designed by Maya Lin, the identical designer of Washington’s Vietnam memorial.
A round black granite desk data the names of the martyrs and chronicles the historical past of the motion in strains that radiate just like the fingers of a clock. Water flows out the middle and throughout the highest of the etched names.
On a curved black granite wall behind the desk is engraved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s well-known paraphrase of Amos 5:24 –
We is not going to be happy till justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
It’s a spot to mirror and contemplate how injustices proceed at this time and what you are able to do to assist right them.
Go to the Wall of Tolerance inside the place you possibly can add your identify to the wall and take the pledge to face for justice, peace and love.
By putting my identify on the Wall of Tolerance, I pledge to take a stand towards hate, injustice and intolerance. I’ll work in my day by day life for justice, equality and human rights – the beliefs for which the Civil Rights martyrs died.
5. Go to the Rosa Parks Library and Museum
See the place the Civil Rights Motion started on the Rosa Parks Museum. They convey the story alive by means of an interactive show, 3D re-enactments, and gospel music setting the scene. The Museum is situated within the spot the place Rosa Park was arrested.
There may be additionally a kids’s annex which has an interactive bus taking children into the previous and thru the expertise making it a worthy cease in your listing of issues to do in Montgomery, AL with children. There’s additionally a station wagon belonging to one of many protestors.
The Rosa Parks Museum could be very properly put along with artifacts and isn’t too overwhelming with info, you get an excellent sense of what occurred and why.
6. Study some extra on the Museum of Alabama
The Alabama Museum tells the story of Alabama’s previous from prehistory to the current by means of award profitable and interacting reveals and applications.
It’s situated on the Alabama Division of Archives and Historical past (ADAH), a surprising constructing, and the nation’s oldest state-funded, impartial archival and historic company.
Interactive and academic shows and areas for teenagers are within the Fingers-On-Gallery and Grandma’s Attic the place you can gown in interval costumes, play with toys from bygone eras, make crafts, take heed to tales, and do extra.
My ladies loved utilizing the typewriter, previous telephones, and getting inventive with the humanities and crafts there. This is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Montgomery Al with Children.
7. Admire the Court docket Sq. Fountain
For a gorgeous view and photograph, that many from our neighborhood mentioned made Montgomery look European, stand on the backside proper nook of the fountain roundabout and search for in the direction of Dexter Avenue and the State Capitol.
This lovely fountain is topped by a statue of Hebe, Goddess of Youth and Cupbearer to the Gods and was in-built 1885 over an current artesian basin. There are fairly a couple of vital historic markers round this fountain.
It’s the place the slave market as soon as was once and can also be the spot the place Rosa Parks boarded the bus on the day she was arrested.
On the nook is the Winter Constructing the place the orders to fireplace the primary shot for the Civil Struggle got.
8. Do a State Capitol Tour
We had finished so many museums and excursions throughout our Montgomery journey and the ladies have been getting actually drained so we sacrificed a tour of the State Capitol. I hope you’ve got time to make it in your journey, as I’d have favored to have finished it.
It’s a grandiose constructing in-built 1850 within the Greek Revival model with good proportions and creamy exterior, which might sparkle towards a transparent blue sky.
It’s famous as a nationwide historic landmark and included on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations. The Confederacy started right here in 1861 and a bit over a century later the Voting Rights march led to 1965.
Out the entrance of the State Capitol is the place the Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights march ended and there Martin Luther King gave his well-known speech, “How Lengthy, Not Lengthy!” after the Selma to Montgomery March.
9. Stroll alongside the Montgomery Riverfront
In the event you go to throughout the hotter months, then the Riverfront is probably a spot so that you can spend a while. You’ll want to test whether or not there are any native festivals or concert events on.
There are additionally river boat rides and a small amphitheater which seems beautiful and sometimes has concert events and occasions. You may carry your cooler, picnic basket, and blanket to take pleasure in them.
We had wet climate on our go to to Montgomery so didn’t get to do a lot on the Riverfront. The Customer Heart is price a glance and it’s near Downtown and the Alley.
10. Fly on the Alabama Shakespeare Pageant
Not a competition as such however a theater situated in Blount Cultural Park. If the climate is variety to you (it was raining for us) arrive early with a picnic and benefit from the 300 acres of floor that can remind you a bit of the English countryside.
The Shakespeare Theater is a totally skilled regional theater that produces round ten productions every season. Whereas Shakespeare performs are on the inventive core of the corporate, Broadway musicals, kids’s productions, American classics, and world premieres are additionally placed on.
We attended a day present of Fly, which tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, who educated at close by Morton Discipline throughout World Struggle II, and gained fame throughout World Struggle II for his or her bravery.
Their flying expertise equaled these of the whites – dying stereotypes and helped result in the choice to desegregate the American Army in 1946. Fly was humorous, unhappy, and advised the story of the pilots in such a transferring and mesmerizing method.
I loved it way over I although I’d. The performing was sensible. The ladies even giggled and loved it regardless of it being barely above their age degree. I like them receiving a cultural training like this.
Take a look to see what’s enjoying because the venue is intimate and at all times has one thing cool on.
11. Admire the Montgomery Museum of Nice Arts
The Montgomery Museum of Nice Arts is in the identical expansive Blount Cultural Park because the Shakespeare Theater. That is one spectacular constructing, and admission is free.
Sadly, one part was closed off to us for a non-public celebration, however we might look over it from above and see among the extra fashionable items.
Don’t miss the large wood donut and ARTWORKS, the artwork gallery and studio for teenagers which has interactive shows and alternatives for the youngsters to create and interact with artwork.
12. Discover Historic Cloverdale
Stroll by means of the tree-shaded streets of the historic Cloverdale to see charming bungalows and stately columned mansions.
It’s a quiet, attractive space with brick paved roads, historic church buildings and houses, boutique shops and stylish eating places (see Classic 12 months under).
There’s a 6-hour tour that connects 16 historic websites in downtown Montgomery that performed pivotal roles within the Civil Rights Motion, Civil Struggle, and the invention of Alabama Music and Folklore Artists. See costs and evaluations right here
13. Pay your respects on the Nationwide Memorial for Peace and Justice
The Nationwide Memorial for Peace and Justice opened in 2018 and was the primary memorial within the U.S. to be made in reminiscence of the African People who’ve been affected by slavery, lynchings, and injustice.
The six acre memorial is most well-known for its area of 800 monuments, every representing a county the place lynchings occurred. Every of those monuments incorporates engravings of the names of people that had been affected by the lynchings.
There are additionally sculptures and paintings that honor essential figures within the Civil Rights motion.
14. Study extra on the Legacy Museum
The Legacy Museum is one other museum that focuses on preserving the historical past of racial injustice to gentle. It was constructed on the positioning the place hundreds of slaves have been warehoused and compelled to labor in chains.
The museum tells the story of slavery to mass incarceration and can also be situated simply blocks from one of the crucial outstanding slave public sale areas in America.
15. Study concerning the Jazz age on the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum
Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald have been thought of “the primary American flappers” and have been outstanding figures within the Jazz Age. Scott was a author, who rose to fame after his first novel, The Facet of Paradise, which was printed in 1920, acquainted him with excessive society in Montgomery.
Zelda was famous for her magnificence, however she additionally suffered from psychological well being points which was made more and more worse by the pairs wild consuming and partying.
The pair have been dwelling a Nice Gatsby way of life in Montgomery and you may study their life on the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, the one museum devoted to the couple.
16. Expertise the nightlife of Alley Leisure District
In the event you’re on the lookout for enjoyable issues to at night time, then a visit to the Alley Leisure District is the place you must be. Often known as the leisure and nightlife district, that is the place you’ll discover bars enjoying nation music. You’ll additionally see theatres and leisure venues the place you possibly can watch stay bands play.
It’s additionally the place you’ll discover the Riverwalk Stadium, a baseball area. The stadium has picnic areas and a playpark for teenagers, in the event that they discover a baseball recreation uninteresting!
It’s additionally only a quick stroll from the riverfront park which sits subsequent to the Gun Island Chute, which connects to the Alabama River. Within the night, you will discover stay music and leisure right here, and youngsters will love enjoying on the splash pad. It’s also possible to take riverboat cruises from the park, together with the Harriott II Riverboat.
17. Go to the First White Home of the Confederacy
The First White Home of the Confederacy was the previous house of Jefferson Davis and the place he lived throughout the Civil Struggle.
In the present day, it’s a museum, showcasing the house during which he lived. You may stroll by means of rooms the place he ate, slept and labored. It’s free to enter, which makes it among the finest free issues to do in Montgomery.
Simply down the highway, you’ll discover the Alabama State Capitol constructing, a nineteenth century constructing that began the Confederacy within the Capital of Alabama.
18. Study concerning the Cattle Trade on the Mooseum
The Mooseum is a kids’s training heart in Montgomery. It’s a spot to study Alabama’s beef cattle trade and has interactive reveals on how beef goes from farm to plate.
It’s also possible to be taught concerning the byproducts that come from beef cattle. Children can gown up like a cowboy and play within the Rodeo Area and be taught all about cows. It’s actually one of the crucial distinctive sights in Montgomery.
19. Find out about nation music on the Hank Williams Museum
One other prime museum in Montgomery price a go to is the Hank Williams Museum. Hank Williams was a rustic music famous person, and you may be taught all about his life and music from this museum.
As you wander by means of the museum, take heed to the sound of his guitars on vinyl data and see his 1952 Child Blue Cadillac. You’ll additionally see his fits, boots, and ties, and a lot extra memorabilia from Hank Williams.
20. Go wild at Montgomery Zoo & Mann Wildlife Studying Museum
In the event you’re visiting Montgomery with children, you can not miss the zoo! Montgomery Zoo is the place you’ll see African elephants, giraffes, and plenty of extra superb animals.
There’s additionally a petting zoo and reptile home, in addition to a stingray tank and parakeet cove. In the event you’re ever wanting issues to do in Montgomery with children, a visit to the zoo is at all times a crowd pleaser.
Locations to Eat in Montgomery
In spite of everything these Montgomery sights to go to, you’re going to want one thing to eat! Listed here are some locations we cherished to eat at in Montgomery.
22. Chris’ Well-known Scorching Canine
In the event you’re a lover of custom and scorching canines, you then’ll love Chris’Scorching Canine. Located on Dexter Avenue, it’s been round since 1917, and is a G.O.A.T restaurant in Portland. Yep, that’s over 100 years of promoting scorching canines, and it’s their signature sauce that put them on that G.O.A.T listing. It’s tremendous low cost as properly, so good for households touring on a funds.
Chris’ Scorching Canine is run by second and third generations of the founding household. Scorching Canine all of the Manner is the signature dish, which is drenched in Chris’s secret sauce, onions and kraut. It makes this listing purely for it’s nostalgic worth!
23. Prevail Union Espresso Montgomery
In search of the perfect espresso in Montgomery, Alabama? We weren’t positive we have been going to seek out it in Montgomery, however an area pointed us down the road to Prevail Union Montgomery, a craft espresso roaster.
That is situated subsequent to the classic hipster Chop Store Barber. The café house is embellished with native artwork and some lounge chairs to take a seat and loosen up with the views out to the fountain and Dexter Avenue.
The espresso is nice, and the barista was Australian, so we knew we have been in the precise place as us Aussie’s are massive espresso snobs. I like life’s little random surprises and anomalies.
24. Central Restaurant
For these on the lookout for one thing a bit extra elegant and upmarket, you possibly can’t go previous Central in The Alley area. Refined, but laid-back, Central is housed in an 1890’s grocery warehouse. Its rustic décor, low lighting and open air kitchen present a welcoming and homely ambiance.
Central’s meals is recent, seasonal and regional, artfully offered and easily scrumptious. It was by far the perfect steak (filet mignon) I’ve had within the US. Don’t miss the fried brussel sprouts with dried cranberries, preserved lemon French dressing, mozzarella curds.
25. Dreamland BBQ
For affordable and scrumptious BBQ, head to Dreamland BBQ. Excellent news dad and mom – children eat free on choose days.
Well-known for its succulent ribs and selfmade sauce. Seize some hickory-fired bbq, ribs and hen, and a serving of baked potatoes, beans, and mac and cheese
Save room for the well-known Banana pudding because it’s the desert to not miss with vanilla wafers, ripe bananas, creamy pudding, and whipped cream, and a secret sauce excessive.
26. Wintzell’s Oyster Home
This seafood restaurant has been serving up recent Gulf Seafood for over 75 years. Get your oysters any method you want, or attempt the signature Oyster sampler with Rockefeller (spinach lovers), Bienville (shrimp, crabmeat, parmesan cream sauce) Chargrilled (over an open flame and smothered with pepper butter and cheese).
You might wish to schedule out a little bit of time right here so you possibly can peruse all of the humorous quotes and sayings that utterly cowl each wall.
27. Sunday Brunch at Classic 12 months
I like how the South does brunch. You received’t be disenchanted with the category and class of brunch at Classic 12 months. Kir Royayle champagne cocktails are a should in fact! It’s Montgomery.
The meals at Classic 12 months is revolutionary and scrumptious. We went for the day by day particular of salmon with native blue stone grits and a creole cajun sauce. Wow. Bursting with creamy deliciousness.
Classic 12 months is a nice eating restaurant dishing up magnificence on a plate for over 1 / 4 of a century. They aspire to serve easy, native, recent meals that rocks with taste and magnificence.
The place to remain in Montgomery Alabama: The Hampton Inn
Within the coronary heart of the historic downtown space and inside minutes’ stroll to The Alley, the premier and revitalized restaurant and nightlife space, is Hampton Inn Downtown.
We cherished the prime location, suppose cobblestone alleyways and stylish consuming spots, and the room was giant, which is at all times welcome with children.
There was a separate sitting space and a small kitchen. The toilet was small with an arrogance space outdoors. If that was a bit smaller and the lavatory a bit greater, it might be good. Aside from that, it’s in an excellent location and the service was glorious.
Breakfast can also be equipped, which was good for the ladies – they love bagels and sausages – however Craig and I skipped on it. We’re gluten-free and don’t like buffet breakfasts.
Getting round Montgomery
Montgomery is a very easy metropolis to get round. Many of the Montgomery sights are inside strolling distance of downtown.
For many who don’t like strolling, there’s a Lightning Route Trolley that connects many of the sights in downtown. It was the primary electrical trolley system within the U.S. and was in-built 1886, so using the trolley is an attraction in itself!
In the event you plan to remain outdoors downtown, the Montgomery Space Transit System is a bus route that companies most locations within the metropolis and surrounding areas.
In the event you’re planning on visiting different components of Alabama, contemplate renting a automotive. Discovercars.com is a superb useful resource for locating automotive leases because it compares all the highest automotive rental corporations. Parking in downtown is notoriously troublesome so be conscious of this if you’re visiting by automotive.
Need to lower your expenses on sights in Montgomery? Then take a look at the 3-day metropolis move, which grants you entry to seven sights in Montgomery!
Closing ideas
As you possibly can see, there’s numerous historical past to discover and study right here, however there’s additionally loads of locations to loosen up, sit again and take heed to nation music, take pleasure in good meals and heat hospitality.
We hope this information helped you propose your go to to Montgomery and provide you with some sights so as to add to your itinerary. Tell us what you’re most excited for within the feedback.
Extra Alabama Journey Suggestions
visiting different locations in Alabama? These sources would possibly assist!
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