Hey! Do you have any plans to visit Montgomery? Then, let me tell you the history museums, historic sites, historical places, fine arts, and the great Martin Luther King make it a place for history buffs to visit.
Montgomery, Alabama is a good place for a weekend getaway or a holiday with all the other attractions. There is something for everyone and you can be assured that you will return home with a bag full of wonderful memories. However, if you are a bit confused to schedule your trip there, don’t worry. Because, here, I’ll tell you about different attractions that you will surely enjoy.
Actually, there are many things to do in Montgomery, which gives it a pleasant vibe, and a weekend getaway in Montgomery will be the much-needed break you are looking for. The beautiful parks, nature, museums, and zoo will make your visit worthwhile. So, check out the options there and plan your trip accordingly.
1. Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Do you know that the Alabama Shakespeare Festival is famous and listed among the world’s ten largest Shakespeare festivals? Housed permanently at the Carolyn Blount Theatre, Montgomery Al, there are around three productions of William Shakespeare annually. Apart from that, there are Broadway Musicals, children’s productions, world premieres, American classics, and a variety of entertainment. Woah! Isn’t this exciting?
Though the focus is more on Shakespeare’s plays, they also have shows featuring George Bernard, Tennessee Williams, and others. The Shakespeare Garden also has some of the plants and flowers featured in the shows and is located in the Blount Cultural Park, Montgomery, Al. So, if you are a theatre lover, this is definitely your way to go.
2. Alabama State Archives and History Museum
I can’t skip the history museums whenever I visit any new city; because it helps us learn a lot about the place. The Alabama State Archives and History Museum in Montgomery is for history lovers and one of the history museums you can add to your bucket list. You can see the exhibits, attend museum events, and access the museum’s educational programs.
The museum building is also impressive and a fine work of art and architecture, and one of the things to do in Montgomery.
3. Alabama State Capitol
The Alabama State Capitol is a National historic landmark of Montgomery, and this working Museum underwent a major restoration in 1992. It is also the State Capitol Building for Alabama, giving expansive views of downtown Montgomery from its hilltop location.
Moreover, it is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the First Confederate Capitol.
4. Alley Entertainment District
Situated near downtown Montgomery, Ball Field, and Alabama Riverfront, Alley Entertainment District is full of life. I strongly recommend you visit there if you are looking to celebrate any special event in your life. The apartments here are chic and urban. If you want to celebrate an event or hold a business meeting, head to Alley Entertainment District. You will get all you want.
5. Blount Cultural Park
Visiting the Blount Cultural Park is a good choice while planning your tour in Montgomery. You get to see the home of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and Hannah Daye Riding Bark Park. This 175-acre park is scenic, with walking trails, an amphitheater, a dog park, fountains, and gazebos.
I’ll tell you one interesting fact about it- The park was donated to the city by Wynton M Blount in memory of his wife and houses two theatres that hold many theatrical performances and piano concerts all year round.
6. Civil Rights Memorial Center
Your visit to Montgomery and Alabama state will be incomplete if you do not visit the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement Memorial is located near the church where Martin Luther King was the pastor during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Alabama Capitol Steps.
The Memorial designed by Maya Lin has one of the lines from Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech, ‘ until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream’ inscribed.
7. Court Square Fountain
I must tell you not to miss the Court Square Fountain there. The best way to see the Court Square Fountain is by taking a walking tour. The fountain is said to be in a location where the two communities from Alabama and New Philadelphia grew together and formed Montgomery, Al. This area became the central location of the Montgomery slave trade later.
This awesome structure was built in 1885 over an existing Artesian Basin, and the Court Square Fountain has the statue of Hebe, the Goddess of Youth.
8. Dexter Parsonage Museum
You can experience the actual residence where Martin Luther King and his family lived between 1954 and 1960 during Dr. Martin Luther King’s pastorate. You must also visit the Interpretive Center and King John’s Garden for Reflection.
Did you know that Dr. Martin Luther King and his family used much of the furniture in the Dexter Parsonage Museum while living there? So, if you are interested in the Civil Rights Movement, this is one of the things to do in Montgomery, Alabama, while visiting the place. Go back in time and experience and read insightful quotes, eyewitness accounts of that period, and unpublished photographs.
9. Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church
I have to tell you one thing, Montgomery is surely a place for history buffs. And you’ll also admit that after visiting so many historical spots there.
For example, the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church is a National Historic Landmark because of its importance in the Civil Rights Movement, and visitors get to see the office of Dr. Martin Luther King. This church has a long history of community service, and much of Montgomery’s civil rights activities under Dr. Martin Luther King were flagged from here. The Church is a reflection of America’s long journey for equality that began in Montgomery Al under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King.
10. First White House of the Confederacy
The First White House of the Confederacy was the first house of Jefferson Davis and his family when Montgomery was the capital of the Confederate States of America. This is one of the historical homes in Montgomery, Alabama, and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage from 2012 onward.
Built by William, this house is a large two-storied wooden frame house painted in white and green. The doorways have been built in Greek revival style, and this Italianate-style house is open to the public for a visit. I’m sure you will be impressed with its design and styling.
11. Freedom Rides Museum
This museum at Montgomery throws light on how 21 college students arrived from Nashville at the Montgomery Greyhound Bus Station and, using non-violence, changed the country’s history by removing racial segregation in public rides. They met the mob with non-violence and changed the unjust laws against the Black people once and for all.
Alabama Historical Commission manages Freedom Rides Museum. You can learn more about the art, personal stories, and architecture by visiting the Freedom Rides Museum
12. Governor’s Mansion
The 107-year-old home is a fine example of neoclassical architecture. The tour takes you through each floor of the Mansion, and after the tour ends, you are invited to the Governor’s Mansion gift shop to enjoy the complimentary cookies.
13. Garrett Coliseum
The Alabama Agricultural Center at Montgomery, Alabama, is situated 3 miles Northeast of downtown Montgomery and boasts of the world-famous Garret Coliseum. The center is also a multi-purpose complex and has hosted some popular entertainers like Elvis Presley and Elton John.
Check if any events are happening there during the time of your visit and take part in them if they interest you.
14. Hank Williams Museum
Are you a music lover and especially a fan of Hank Williams? Then, how can you skip the Hank Williams Museum on Commerce Street in Montgomery. It houses 17 of his stage suits, custom boots, tie collection, awards, and a 1952 baby blue Cadillac.
A trip around this museum will take you into the life of the country’s first country music superstar. You can also visit Hank Williams Memorial and Gravesite, the final resting place of the superstar, which is at the Oakwood Annex Cemetery.
15. Jackson Lake Island
Are you looking to spend some time in the quietude of nature while visiting Montgomery? Then I recommend your trip to Jackson Lake Island. It’s just a 20-minute drive from Montgomery. The place is perfect if you like boating and fishing; the island is spacious and perfect for outdoor activities.
Did you know Jackson Lake Island became famous after the movie Big Fish was filmed there. The movie’s town, Spectre, remains on the East bank. The best thing I like about it is the environment here is quiet, peaceful, and a good place for nature lovers.
16. Legacy Museum
Located a few steps from the Alabama Dock and Rail Station, the Legacy Museum gives insights into the history of the United States. It is situated exactly where the Black people were forced into slavery. In fact, there is one entire wing in the Legacy Museum that focuses on the violence of slavery, the history of slavery and racism in America, sexual violence against enslaved Black women, and how the enslaved people stayed in touch with their families and loved ones.
There is also a Reflection Space in the Museum dedicated to the people who worked throughout their lives to challenge racial injustice. So, if you are interested in knowing more about the slavery period in the U.S., this museum is surely a perfect destination for you.
17. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
And this one is for all the art lovers. Explore the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and soak in the art and creativity of Alabama State. The museum’s permanent art collection includes works of Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Rembrandt, Cassatt, and Edward Hopper. Trust me, this museum is one of its kind in the State, and it collects, preserves, and exhibits art for the public’s enjoyment.
18. Montgomery Zoo
I want to recommend one spot that I’m sure every family man would love to visit. Yes. if you have kids do take them to the Montgomery Zoo. The zoo boasts 500 animals from five continents, putting them in barrier-free habitats. It is also a popular fishing destination. You can go around the zoo by taking a stroll or riding on their miniature train.
The zoo has its own museum and holds programs such as Animal Paintings and Animal Encounters to make your visit interactive and exciting.
19. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre
This 1,800-seat-capacity performing arts center is perfect for seeing various shows, concerts, opera, dance, comedy shows, and children’s programs. Located in downtown Montgomery, it is a part of the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. So, I strongly recommend you visit there if you love live music, shows, and concerts.
The theatre supports a wide range of art and artists.
20. National Memorial for Peace and Justice
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice gives tribute to the Blacks who lost their lives during the lynching. It is also known as the National Lynching Memorial. This is the first memorial dedicated to African Americans humiliated by racial segregation and Jim Crow, the legacy of the Black people, and people terrorized by lynching.
I suggest you take a guided tour of this Memorial and read quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King, Toni Morrison, and Elizabeth Alexander. This National Memorial for Peace and Justice sits on six acres and contextualizes racial terror using art, design, and sculpture. The tickets to the Memorials and Museums can be from the respective visitor centers, depending on when you want to visit.
21. Old Alabama Town
I’d also like to tell you about the Old Alabama Town, as it is the best way to understand how the Alabamians lived in the 19th and 20th centuries. The buildings in Old Alabama Town at Montgomery, Alabama, have been restored and saved from demolition.
They have preserved it as a history museum; take a nostalgic trip through the one-room schoolhouse, a slave dwelling, a grist mill, and the oldest surviving building in the country, the Lucas Tavern. You can visit there to learn about all these.
22. Rosa Parks Library and Museum
Montgomery was the town where a bold Black woman refused to get up and give her bus seat to a white man. Her name was Rosa Parks, an era when the seats inside buses were segregated for blacks and whites.
It was a life-changing event, and you can learn more about this incident by visiting the Rosa Parks Library and Museum. Once you tour this museum, you can take a walk and go to the bus stop where the incident happened.
23. Riverfront Park
Looking for fun and outdoor activities to make your trip to Montgomery exciting? Then I recommend you visit the Riverfront Park on the banks of the Alabama River. Boat rides, concerts, and events add to the attraction of this park, and it is a good place for people from all age brackets to visit.
So, take a trip back in time and enjoy the live entertainment, dinner, and dancing while cruising along the waters in the 19th-century riverboat. Tickets can be bought from the Harriot II website 48 hours before the cruise.
24. Riverwalk Stadium
The Riverwalk Stadium can accommodate up to 7,000 people and is the home of Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League, a minor league baseball park. The stadium, also known as the Montgomery Biscuits Baseball Stadium, is a converted train shed near the Alabama River.
The Riverwalk Amphitheater is nearby, and the stadium hosts events, concerts, and various shows. Have a blast watching the Montgomery Biscuits at the Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium if you are a fan.
25. The National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture
Established in 1997, the National Center provides information about the important role played by Montgomery Al in the modern Civil Rights Movement. The center also shares the history of African Americans, and there are guest lectures, events, and art collections.
26. The Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum
The Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum throws light on the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, and is a tribute to their lives and legacies. The couple dominated the country’s literary scene for a while till they got pulled into alcohol and mental health issues and had an untimely ending.
Together, Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda created incredible pieces of literature, and their love story always fascinated many for its talent, creativity, romance, drama, failure, and darkness. If you love literature, then I’m sure you will fall in love with this spot.
27. Union Station Train Shed
This landmark building has been declared one of the National Historic Sites. Did you know that the Union Station is known for its train shed built in 1898 by the Louis and Nashville Railroad?
It illustrates the adaptation of bridge-building techniques to shelter structures and covers four tracks. This 600-foot-long shed at Montgomery Al is an ideal venue for concerts, festivals, and other events.
28. W.A.Gayle Planetarium
Last on my list is the Montgomery City Planetarium operated by Troy University. It has interesting exhibits on space exploration, planetary science, and educational and informative exhibits on astronomy. The Planetarium facilities are designed to project the sun, moon, stars, and other celestial objects in the sky. It welcomes visitors from all over Alabama State and its neighboring towns.
As I told you earlier, there are innumerable things to do in Montgomery, Alabama. Also, Montgomery has a lot of history attached to it, and you should not go back home without picking up souvenirs from a gift shop to make you remember your visit to this city. Whether regional art, history, or nature, Montgomery Al will always be etched in your memories.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
