Montgomery isn’t just Alabama’s state capital—it’s a city that helped shape America’s story. From the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, this place has seen it all. Today, you can retrace the footsteps of iconic figures like Rosa Parks and Hank Williams, visit world-class museums, attend the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and enjoy plenty of local flavor. Here’s my guide to Montgomery as a smitten tourist!
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Location
Montgomery sits along the Alabama River. It’s a little under 4 hours drive from Athens, GA, about 3 hours from Atlanta, GA, 4 hours from Nashville, TN, or 1.5 hours from Birmingham, AL.
The Capitol Building
While the Alabama Legislature no longer meets here, the Capitol building has witnessed plenty of action over the years. It was on these steps that Jefferson Davis became the President of the Confederacy, and where the Selma to Montgomery march ended. The hill’s numerous monuments and features give a fascinating glimpse into the past.
One of Montgomery’s sweet hidden gems is its very own Moon Tree. This loblolly pine, planted in 1975, grew from seeds that went to the moon with Apollo 14 in 1971. It’s living proof that seeds can survive space travel! Around the front of the building you can see a statue of James Marion Sims. Known as the father of modern gynecology, Sims’ legacy is controversial because he practiced his experimental surgeries on enslaved black women. (Just a mile away, the Mothers of Gynecology Park offers a more fitting tribute.) Another notable statue is Albert Love Patterson, who stands out with a lift in his shoe – a detail you don’t often see in commemorative statues. Patterson was assassinated in 1954 while running for attorney general.
You might notice the absence of women on the grounds and you wouldn’t be alone. Bronze statues of Helen Keller and Rosa Parks were commissioned a few years ago and the finished tributes will be unveiled in the near future!
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
Right across from the Capitol building, you can see the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as a pastor from 1954-1960 and where the plans for the Montgomery Bus Boycott were organized. You can also visit the house where the King family lived during this time, preserved as the Dexter Parsonage Museum. Tours for the house are Fridays and Saturdays or by appointment.
Church: 454 Dexter Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104
The Legacy Sites
No visit to Montgomery is complete without a trip to The Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the new Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. These sites provide a sobering yet essential exploration of America’s history from slavery to mass incarceration. The exhibits are visually stunning and are the most powerful way I have seen art and design used to engage people with painful issues. Read more about the Legacy Sites here.
Museum: 400 N Court St, Montgomery, AL 36104
Tickets: $5 to see all three sites. Buy tickets in advance online or at the Legacy Museum.
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Rosa Parks Museum
At Troy University, the Rosa Parks Museum offers self-guided tours that begin with a short film and a cool multimedia reenactment of Parks’ historic arrest. A statue of Rosa Parks welcomes you at the entrance. The museum also features a gallery.
Museum: 252 Montgomery St, Montgomery, AL 36104
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm; Saturday, 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $7.50
Violata Pax Dove
Just across the street, you’ll find the Violata Pax Dove, a massive (and slightly terrifying) sculpture commissioned by Pope Benedict XVI. Artist Fred Hall Hollis positioned the dove to face the Rosa Parks Museum as a reminder of Parks’ courage.
Troy University: 231 Montgomery St, Montgomery, AL 36104
Hank Williams
Country music megastar Hank may not have been born in Montgomery but the city was his true home. He spent most of his life here, and even after making it big in Nashville, he always found his way back. Hank’s funeral in at the Montgomery Auditorium drew an estimated 24,000 mourners, and today, he’s buried at the Oakwood Annex alongside his ex-wife Audrey.
The Hank Wiliams Museum is a treasure trove for fans, filled with his old suits, his death Cadillac, and other memorabilia. Check out the gift shop for all things Hank including cowboy boot shaped koozies. Nearby, you’ll find a life-size bronze statue of Hank Williams near the river.
Museum: 118 Commerce St, Montgomery, AL 36104
Hours: Monday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm, Saturday 10 am – 4 pm, Sunday 1 – 4 pm
Cost: $15
At Hank’s grave, you’ll find a white granite monument standing tall beside a matching one for Audrey. The base of his grave is embellished with references to his hit songs and a replica of his signature cowboy hat. To keep fans from stealing the natural grass as souvenirs, the gravesite is now covered in Astroturf.
Gravesite: 1305 Upper Wetumpka Rd, Montgomery, AL
The Fitzgerald Museum
In the Cloverdale neighborhood, The Fitzgerald Museum is located in the last home shared by literary legend F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda. The couple first met in Montgomery in 1918, and they returned to the city in 1931, staying in this house with their daughter, Scottie, for about six months before Zelda was hospitalized for mental illness. If you’re feeling extra literary, you can book a night in one of the period-decorated suites.
Museum: 919 Felder Ave, Montgomery, AL 36106
Hours: Thursday – Sunday 10 am – 3 pm or by appointment
Cost: $5
Cloverdale
Cloverdale is packed with charming boutiques, restaurants, and bars. For dinner you can’t go wrong with El Rey Burrito Lounge, followed by a cocktail or two at Leroy.
El Rey: 1031 E Fairview Ave, Montgomery, AL 36106
Leroy: 2752 Boultier St, Montgomery, AL 36106
The World’s Largest Brick (sort of)
Lastly, if you love roadside attractions like I do, don’t miss the World’s Largest Brick Made of Bricks! It used to hold the title of “The World’s Largest Brick,” but Texas now has them beat on that.
Acme Brick: 10200 US-80, Montgomery, AL 36117
More Montgomery!
The above recommendations come from my visits to The Gump but there’s so much more! Here are a few places I hope to check out on future trips:
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
Nestled in scenic Blount Cultural Park, The Museum of Fine Arts boasts an impressive collection of American paintings, Southern art, and serene sculpture garden.
Museum: 1 Museum Dr, Montgomery, AL 36117
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Parking and admission are free!
The Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Montgomery hosts one of the largest Shakespeare festivals in the world, The Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Since settling in Montgomery in 1985, the festival has become a cultural staple, with over 400 performances each year.
The Montgomery Biscuits
Minor League baseball never disappoints with quirky team names and the Biscuits are no exception. Catch a game at the Riverwalk Stadium to cheer on the Montgomery Biscuits.
What’s Nearby?
- Jackson Lake Island – Just a short drive north of the city, you’ll find Jackson Lake Island, the site of the fictional town of Spectre from Tim Burton’s 2003 film Big Fish. You can still walk through the remnants of the movie set. There is also a herd of free-ranging goats! Read more about visiting Spectre here.
- Rice’s Cross Garden – About 20 minutes northwest of Montgomery in Prattville, you can see a number of sprawling plots filled with crosses and hell-and-brimstone folk art. The space has been hit hard by neglect but the intense vision is still present.
- Selma – A little under an hour’s drive west, Selma is another must-visit for history buffs. Walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and see the National Voting Rights Museum.
Not enough people sing the praises of Montgomery, Alabama, even though it has so much going for it! Whether you’re diving into its deep history, celebrating its musical roots, or enjoying the arts, there’s plenty to see and do in the heart of the South.
Where to Stay in Montgomery
I almost always stay at a budget accommodation and on my most recent trip to Montgomery, I split a room with my friend at the Quality Inn on East Carmichael. It was just right for us – clean and cheap ($88 in August 2024). You can book a room here.
If I were operating with a bigger budget, or cared more about location, I might pick:
- This gorgeous suite in historic Cloverdale
- The Trilogy Hotel, right by the Civil Rights Memorial and Riverwalk
Find More Places To Visit!
Montgomery sounds like an interesting place to visit. I have never been to Alabama, but it’s one of the places I would like to discover someday.
The whole state is kind of a hidden gem! Hope you can visit one day!
Sadly we have not yet spent much time exploring Georgia. Montgomery looks like a spot with lots to see and do. And lots of history to learn on a stay too! Good to know it would be great to act as a base to explore other gems close by.
I think Georgia and Alabama are sooo underrated with loads of natural beauty, history and art to check out. Hope you can spend some time here some day!
I would love to visit Montgomery, AL. I didn’t know there was so much to see and do. I would love to try all the food and visit multiple museums.
For sure! You can never go wrong with southern food – def going to check out more cute restaurants next time.
LOVE City Guides like this! State Capitols are always one of my first tours.. so much rich history and architecture,,and any other historically preserved location- You have to see it and be there to better understand our country’s complex history.
Yes! Even though our country is relatively “new,” it’s such a giant patchwork with deep history. I also love a distinguished dome building – hope to visit Atlanta’s capitol building soon!