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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: identified for its legacy with the Civil Rights Motion, Southern hospitality, nightlife, and museums, you possibly can make sure to discover loads of issues to do in Montgomery AL.
It is 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 sluggish paced and you might marvel the place all of the persons 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 take a look at the ginormous authorities buildings – I’ve by no means seen something prefer it earlier than!
Come able to replicate, and able to uncover greater than you bargained for, as a result of Montgomery doesn’t simply inform America’s story; it continues to write down it.
1. Go to the Freedom Rides Museum
Montgomery is the place Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat and commenced the boycott motion. It’s the place Dr. Martin Luther King rose as a frontrunner of that motion. It was the place the flame for the African American individuals was ignited. It was the place that led to change to make the world a greater place.
So when you’re visiting the Alabama capital, then you definately had higher make 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 informed by means of a collection of artworks, shows, and biographies of key leaders and gamers inside the motion.
This museum is on the location of the unique Greyhound Bus Station the place the assault on the Freedom Riders came about. This rehabilitated bus station has been restored to the way it appeared in 1961 and is the location of the assault on Freedom Riders after they arrived on the station on Might 20, 1961.
The Freedom Riders had been a gaggle of blacks and whites who determined to peacefully journey the buses collectively from Washington DC to New Orleans in protest in opposition to the segregation that was occurring on interstate bus rides. They had been ready to satisfy mob violence with non-violence and braveness. They ready farewell letters and wills.
Their aim was to assist finish racial segregation in public transportation. They had 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 had been arrested and despatched to jail for 40 days for breaking segregation legal guidelines.
Our information, Dorothy, was extraordinarily passionate in regards to the museum. Her tales helped us perceive extra of what occurred throughout this era of the Civil Rights Motion. I completely loved her tour of the museum. In addition they have a scavenger hunt for the children 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 one in every of our favourite excursions in Montgomery. The Dexter Avenue Baptist Church was inbuilt 1883 and shortly turned an essential worship and assembly place for the African group.
The previous crimson brick constructing with views out to the State Capitol feels very symbolic when you think about what the group inside this church was in a position to obtain within the metropolis that was identified 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 in the neighborhood as an enigmatic chief and was chosen to steer the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which launched him as a Civil Rights chief.
The tour is incredible, largely as a consequence of 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 women liked it.
Contained in the Church, you get to see Dr. King’s workplace the place he wrote a lot 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’ll be able to 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 group 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 after we had 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.
You may also see unpublished images of Dr. King and former members of the Montgomery ministers who had been energetic 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 one of the best place to go to after you will have seen the opposite Civil Rights Path experiences. There’s a stunning 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 traces 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 won’t be glad till justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
It’s a spot to replicate and think about how injustices proceed at this time and what you are able to do to assist appropriate them.
Go to the Wall of Tolerance inside the place you possibly can add your title to the wall and take the pledge to face for justice, peace and love.
By inserting my title on the Wall of Tolerance, I pledge to take a stand in opposition to 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 bring about 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 youngsters’s annex which has an interactive bus taking youngsters into the previous and thru the expertise making it a worthy cease in your listing of issues to do in Montgomery, AL with youngsters. 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 a terrific 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 successful 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 women loved utilizing the typewriter, previous telephones, and getting artistic with the humanities and crafts there. This is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Montgomery Al with Youngsters.
7. Admire the Courtroom Sq. Fountain
For a wonderful view and photograph, that many from our group mentioned made Montgomery look European, stand on the backside proper nook of the fountain roundabout and lookup in direction of Dexter Avenue and the State Capitol.
This stunning fountain is topped by a statue of Hebe, Goddess of Youth and Cupbearer to the Gods and was inbuilt 1885 over an present artesian basin. There are fairly just a few important 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 fireside the primary shot for the Civil Struggle got.
8. Do a State Capitol Tour
We had accomplished so many museums and excursions throughout our Montgomery journey and the ladies had been getting actually drained so we sacrificed a tour of the State Capitol. I hope you will have time to make it in your journey, as I might have preferred to have accomplished it.
It’s a grandiose constructing inbuilt 1850 within the Greek Revival fashion with excellent proportions and creamy exterior, which might sparkle in opposition to 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 somewhat over a century later the Voting Rights march resulted in 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
Should you go to in the course of 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 live shows on.
There are additionally river boat rides and a small amphitheater which appears pretty and sometimes has live shows and occasions. You’ll be able to carry your cooler, picnic basket, and blanket to get pleasure from 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 pageant as such however a theater situated in Blount Cultural Park. If the climate is type to you (it was raining for us) arrive early with a picnic and benefit from the 300 acres of floor that may remind you somewhat 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 creative core of the corporate, Broadway musicals, youngsters’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 skilled 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 Navy in 1946. Fly was humorous, unhappy, and informed the story of the pilots in such a transferring and mesmerizing method.
I loved it excess of I although I might. The performing was good. 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 all the time has one thing cool on.
11. Admire the Montgomery Museum of Advantageous Arts
The Montgomery Museum of Advantageous 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 get together, however we may 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 children to create and have interaction 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, beautiful space with brick paved roads, historic church buildings and houses, boutique shops and classy eating places (see Classic Yr 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 opinions 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 came about. 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 mild. It was constructed on the location the place 1000’s of slaves had 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 outstanding slave public sale areas in America.
15. Study in regards to the Jazz age on the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum
Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald had been thought of “the primary American flappers” and had been outstanding figures within the Jazz Age. Scott was a author, who rose to fame after his first novel, The Aspect 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 ingesting and partying.
The pair had 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
Should you’re on the lookout for enjoyable issues to at night time, then a visit to the Alley Leisure District is the place it’s good to be. Often called 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 dwell 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 dwell music and leisure right here, and youngsters will love enjoying on the splash pad. You may also 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 in the course of the Civil Struggle.
In the present day, it’s a museum, showcasing the house during which he lived. You’ll be able to stroll by means of rooms the place he ate, slept and labored. It’s free to enter, which makes it top-of-the-line free issues to do in Montgomery.
Simply down the street, you’ll discover the Alabama State Capitol constructing, a nineteenth century constructing that began the Confederacy within the Capital of Alabama.
18. Study in regards to the Cattle Business on the Mooseum
The Mooseum is a youngsters’s training middle 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.
You may also be taught in regards to the byproducts that come from beef cattle. Youngsters can gown up like a cowboy and play within the Rodeo Area and be taught all about cows. It’s actually one of the distinctive sights in Montgomery.
19. Study 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 celebrity, 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
Should you’re visiting Montgomery with youngsters, you can not miss the zoo! Montgomery Zoo is the place you’ll see African elephants, giraffes, and plenty of extra wonderful animals.
There’s additionally a petting zoo and reptile home, in addition to a stingray tank and parakeet cove. Should you’re ever in need of issues to do in Montgomery with youngsters, a visit to the zoo is all the time a crowd pleaser.
Locations to Eat in Montgomery
In any case these Montgomery sights to go to, you’re going to wish one thing to eat! Listed below are some locations we liked to eat at in Montgomery.
22. Chris’ Well-known Scorching Canine
Should you’re a lover of custom and sizzling canines, then you definately’ll love Chris’Scorching Canines. 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 sizzling 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 excellent for households touring on a price range.
Chris’ Scorching Canines is run by second and third generations of the founding household. Scorching Canine all of the Approach 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 one of the best espresso in Montgomery, Alabama? We weren’t positive we had been going to search out it in Montgomery, however a neighborhood 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 adorned with native artwork and some lounge chairs to sit down and calm down with the views out to the fountain and Dexter Avenue.
The espresso is sweet, and the barista was Australian, so we knew we had been in the best 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 somewhat 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 environment.
Central’s meals is recent, seasonal and regional, artfully introduced and easily scrumptious. It was by far one of the best 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 – youngsters 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).
Chances are you’ll wish to schedule out a little bit of time right here so you possibly can peruse all of the humorous quotes and sayings that fully cowl each wall.
27. Sunday Brunch at Classic Yr
I like how the South does brunch. You received’t be upset with the category and class of brunch at Classic Yr. Kir Royayle champagne cocktails are a should in fact! It’s Montgomery.
The meals at Classic Yr is modern 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 Yr is a high quality eating restaurant dishing up class 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 liked the prime location, assume cobblestone alleyways and classy consuming spots, and the room was giant, which is all the time welcome with youngsters.
There was a separate sitting space and a small kitchen. The lavatory was small with an arrogance space exterior. If that was somewhat smaller and the lavatory somewhat larger, it could be excellent. Aside from that, it’s in a terrific location and the service was glorious.
Breakfast can also be provided, which was excellent 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. A lot of the Montgomery sights are inside strolling distance of downtown.
For individuals 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 inbuilt 1886, so driving the trolley is an attraction in itself!
Should you plan to remain exterior downtown, the Montgomery Space Transit System is a bus route that providers most locations within the metropolis and surrounding areas.
Should you’re planning on visiting different components of Alabama, think about renting a automotive. Discovercars.com is a good useful resource for locating automotive leases because it compares all the highest automotive rental corporations. Parking in downtown is notoriously troublesome so be aware of this if you’re visiting by automotive.
Need to get monetary savings 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 calm down, sit again and take heed to nation music, get pleasure from 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.
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Taking a look at visiting different locations in Alabama? These assets may assist!
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