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Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, and is equal elements historic and delightful. 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 you’ll want 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 gradual paced and you might surprise the place all of the individuals are, however don’t let that idiot you, there are tons of cool points of interest 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 started 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 caused change to make the world a greater place.
So for those who’re visiting the Alabama capital, then you definately had higher be certain that to go to the Freedom Rides Museum, which provides a wonderful perception into the courageous peaceable protest of the Freedom Riders and is informed via 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 passed off. This rehabilitated bus station has been restored to the way it regarded in 1961 and is the positioning of the assault on Freedom Riders once they arrived on the station on Could 20, 1961.
The Freedom Riders had been a gaggle of blacks and whites who determined to peacefully trip 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 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 one in every of our favourite excursions in Montgomery. The Dexter Avenue Baptist Church was in-built 1883 and rapidly turned an essential worship and assembly place for the African neighborhood.
The previous crimson 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 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 guide the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which launched him as a Civil Rights chief.
The tour is unbelievable, largely attributable to our information, Wanda who shared the spirit of King and the motion via her songs, and phrases of affection and pleasure, peace and unity. Our women beloved 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 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 steering from inside to not stop on the dream once we had been most afraid and troubled over it, however to maintain standing up for justice.
The everlasting assortment within the Interpretive Middle of the museum comprises images and a timeline of the 12 Dexter pastors who lived right here in addition to inspiring quotes from their Pastoral Knowledge.
You can too see unpublished pictures of Dr. King and former members of the Montgomery ministers who had 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 Middle
The Civil Rights Memorial is the very best place to go to after you may have 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 traces that radiate just like the palms 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 happy 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 the moment 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 inserting my identify on the Wall of Tolerance, I pledge to take a stand in opposition to hate, injustice and intolerance. I’ll work in my every 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 create the story alive via 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 checklist 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 effectively put along with artifacts and isn’t too overwhelming with data, you get an incredible 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 via award profitable and interacting reveals and applications.
It’s situated on the Alabama Division of Archives and Historical past (ADAH), a shocking constructing, and the nation’s oldest state-funded, unbiased archival and historic company.
Interactive and academic shows and areas for youths are within the Arms-On-Gallery and Grandma’s Attic the place you can costume in interval costumes, play with toys from bygone eras, make crafts, hearken 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 Children.
7. Admire the Court docket Sq. Fountain
For an attractive view and photograph, that many from our neighborhood stated made Montgomery look European, stand on the backside proper nook of the fountain roundabout and search for in 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 present artesian basin. There are fairly a number of important historic markers round this fountain.
It’s the place the slave market as soon as was and can 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 executed so many museums and excursions throughout our Montgomery journey and the women had been getting actually drained so we sacrificed a tour of the State Capitol. I hope you may have time to make it in your journey, as I might have appreciated to have executed it.
It’s a grandiose constructing in-built 1850 within the Greek Revival model 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
When you go to in the course of the hotter months, then the Riverfront is presumably a spot so that you can spend a while. You should definitely examine whether or not there are any native festivals or live shows on.
There are additionally river boat rides and a small amphitheater which appears to be like beautiful and sometimes has live shows and occasions. You may 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 Middle is value a glance and it’s near Downtown and the Alley.
10. Fly on the Alabama Shakespeare Competition
Not a pageant 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 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 inventive 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 abilities 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 informed the story of the pilots in such a transferring and mesmerizing approach.
I loved it excess of I although I might. The appearing was good. The women even giggled and loved it regardless of it being barely above their age stage. I like them receiving a cultural training like this.
Take a look to see what’s taking part in because the venue is intimate and at all times has one thing cool on.
11. Admire the Montgomery Museum of Positive Arts
The Montgomery Museum of Positive 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 social gathering, however we might look over it from above and see a few of the extra trendy items.
Don’t miss the large wood donut and ARTWORKS, the artwork gallery and studio for youths which has interactive shows and alternatives for the youngsters to create and have interaction with artwork.
12. Discover Historic Cloverdale
Stroll via 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 classy 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 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 Individuals 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 passed off. Every of those monuments comprises 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 positioning 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 be situated simply blocks from one of the vital distinguished 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 distinguished figures within the Jazz Age. Scott was a author, who rose to fame after his first novel, The Aspect of Paradise, which was revealed 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 residing a Nice Gatsby life-style in Montgomery and you’ll 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
When 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 essential to be. Referred to as the leisure and nightlife district, that is the place you’ll discover bars taking part in nation music. You’ll additionally see theatres and leisure venues the place you possibly can watch reside 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 youths, 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, yow will discover reside music and leisure right here, and children will love taking part in on the splash pad. You can too 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 residence of Jefferson Davis and the place he lived in the course of the Civil Struggle.
At this time, it’s a museum, showcasing the house through which he lived. You may stroll via rooms the place he ate, slept and labored. It’s free to enter, which makes it the most effective 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 Trade on the Mooseum
The Mooseum is a youngsters’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.
You can too be taught in regards to the byproducts that come from beef cattle. Children can costume up like a cowboy and play within the Rodeo Area and be taught all about cows. It’s definitely one of the vital distinctive points of interest in Montgomery.
19. Study nation music on the Hank Williams Museum
One other high museum in Montgomery value a go to is the Hank Williams Museum. Hank Williams was a rustic music celebrity, and you’ll be taught all about his life and music from this museum.
As you wander via the museum, hearken 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
When 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 superb animals.
There’s additionally a petting zoo and reptile home, in addition to a stingray tank and parakeet cove. When you’re ever wanting issues to do in Montgomery with youngsters, a visit to the zoo is at all times a crowd pleaser.
Locations to Eat in Montgomery
In spite of everything these Montgomery points of interest to go to, you’re going to want one thing to eat! Listed here are some locations we beloved to eat at in Montgomery.
22. Chris’ Well-known Sizzling Canine
When you’re a lover of custom and scorching canines, then you definately’ll love Chris’Sizzling 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 scorching canines, and it’s their signature sauce that put them on that G.O.A.T checklist. It’s tremendous low-cost as effectively, so excellent for households touring on a price range.
Chris’ Sizzling Canines is run by second and third generations of the founding household. Sizzling Canine all of the Means is the signature dish, which is drenched in Chris’s secret sauce, onions and kraut. It makes this checklist purely for it’s nostalgic worth!
23. Prevail Union Espresso Montgomery
Searching for the very best espresso in Montgomery, Alabama? We weren’t certain we had been going to search 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 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 correct place as us Aussie’s are large 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. Subtle, 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 contemporary, seasonal and regional, artfully introduced and easily scrumptious. It was by far the very 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 home made 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 contemporary Gulf Seafood for over 75 years. Get your oysters any approach 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 could 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 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 after all! It’s Montgomery.
The meals at Classic 12 months is progressive and scrumptious. We went for the every day particular of salmon with native blue stone grits and a creole cajun sauce. Wow. Bursting with creamy deliciousness.
Classic 12 months is a fantastic eating restaurant dishing up magnificence on a plate for over 1 / 4 of a century. They aspire to serve easy, native, contemporary meals that rocks with taste and elegance.
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 beloved the prime location, suppose cobblestone alleyways and classy consuming spots, and the room was giant, which is at all times 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 toilet somewhat larger, it might be excellent. Apart from that, it’s in an incredible location and the service was wonderful.
Breakfast can be equipped, which was excellent for the women – 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 points of interest are inside strolling distance of downtown.
For many who don’t like strolling, there’s a Lightning Route Trolley that connects many of the points of interest 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!
When you plan to remain exterior downtown, the Montgomery Space Transit System is a bus route that companies most locations within the metropolis and surrounding areas.
When you’re planning on visiting different elements of Alabama, think about renting a automobile. Discovercars.com is a good useful resource for locating automobile leases because it compares all the highest automobile rental corporations. Parking in downtown is notoriously troublesome so be aware of this in case you are visiting by automobile.
Need to lower your expenses on points of interest in Montgomery? Then try the 3-day metropolis cross, which grants you entry to seven points of interest in Montgomery!
Remaining ideas
As you possibly can see, there’s loads of historical past to discover and study right here, however there’s additionally loads of locations to calm down, sit again and hearken to nation music, get pleasure from good meals and heat hospitality.
We hope this information helped you intend your go to to Montgomery and provide you with some points of interest so as to add to your itinerary. Tell us what you’re most excited for within the feedback.
Extra Alabama Journey Ideas
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