Montgomery Travel Guide

The capital of Alabama, Montgomery has played a pivotal role at many important points in American history. The city hosted the inauguration of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, and was the site of the Montgomery Bus Boycott lead by Rosa Parks, and many other civil rights events lead by activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr.

As the city is so steeped in history, it's no wonder that there are so many historic and cultural attractions in Montgomery. Visitors can learn about the Civil Rights Movement at the Rosa Parks Library and Museum, the Civil Rights Memorial and Center, and Dexter Parsonage Museum; and visit Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached for nearly a decade. Just an hour out of Montgomery, the town of Selma is home to the National Voting Rights Museum.

Going back further in history, the First White House of the Confederacy was once the residence of Jefferson Davis during the Civil War. Old Alabama Town is a fun attraction for children in Montgomery, as it recreates life in a 19th-century Alabama village. Montgomery has had plenty of famous citizens, and there are also museums dedicated to musician Hank Williams and writers F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.

Montgomery is a lovely city with plenty of green spaces, including Blount Cultural Park, Jasmine Hill Gardens and Outdoor Museum and the scenic Riverfront Amphitheater. Visitors can enjoy a bit of southern hospitality at any number of diners and bars, or take in a Montgomery Biscuits minor league baseball game. For a scenic view of Montgomery, it's worth taking a ride on the Harriott II riverboat, which cruises on the Alabama River.