• What makes Montgomery historically significant?
    • Situated on seven hills overlooking the Alabama River, Montgomery played an exceptionally large role in American history.
  • What historical sites can visitors explore?
    • Stroll through the Montgomery historic district to see beautiful antebellum mansions, the First White House of the Confederacy, the 1851 Alabama State Capitol, and the Dexter Parsonage Museum, where Dr. Martin Luther King and his family lived.
  • What cultural attractions does Montgomery offer?
    • Montgomery has a lively art scene, featuring the popular Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and the Performing Arts Center.
  • What family-friendly attractions are available?
    • Beautiful parks, nature centers, and a zoo provide many options for families to enjoy the outdoors and experience wildlife.
  • Why should visitors choose Montgomery for a getaway?
    • With its rich history, arts, culture, and family-friendly attractions, Montgomery is a wonderful place to visit for a diverse and memorable getaway.

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1. Rosa Parks Library and Museum

Rosa Parks Library and Museum

© Rosa Parks Library and Museum

  • What is the Rosa Parks Library and Museum?
    • Part of the Montgomery Campus of Troy State University, the Rosa Parks Library and Museum is located on the site of the historic Empire Theatre, near where Rosa Parks made her courageous stand in 1955, changing the course of American history.
  • What exhibits can visitors see at the museum?
    • The museum has a range of permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as a 103-seat multimedia auditorium.
  • What does the museum showcase about the Civil Rights Movement?
    • The museum is divided into six distinct areas, each telling the story of the courage of early Civil Rights fighters.
  • What are some of the most notable artifacts?
    • Some of the most interesting artifacts include a restored 1955 station wagon, a replica of the city bus on which Rosa Parks made her stand, and original historical documents from that era.
  • What is the purpose of the Rosa Parks Museum?
    • The museum’s mission is to interpret and preserve materials related to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, ensuring that this pivotal moment in history is remembered.
  • Where is the Rosa Parks Museum located?
    • 252 Montgomery St, Montgomery, AL 36104, 334-241-8615

2. Civil Rights Memorial Center

Civil Rights Memorial Center

© Civil Rights Memorial Center

  • What is the Civil Rights Memorial?
    • Located in downtown Montgomery in an open plaza in front of the Civil Rights Memorial Center, the Civil Rights Memorial is dedicated to 41 people who fought and died during the American Civil Rights Movement for equal and integrated treatment between 1954 and 1968.
  • Where is the Civil Rights Memorial Center located?
    • The Civil Rights Memorial Center is located next to the Memorial and serves as an educational and interactive space for visitors.
  • What exhibits are featured in the Civil Rights Memorial Center?
    • The center features exhibits about the martyrs of the Civil Rights Movement, a 56-seat theater, a classroom, and the Wall of Tolerance.
  • What is the Wall of Tolerance?
    • The 20 by 40-foot Wall digitally displays the names of over half a million people who have pledged to stand against hate and work for tolerance and justice.
  • Can visitors participate in the Wall of Tolerance?
    • All visitors can pledge to take a stand against injustice, hate, and intolerance, and their names will be added to the continuous digital flow of names displayed on the Wall.
  • Where is the Civil Rights Memorial located?
    • 400 Washington Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104, 334-956-8439

3. First White House of the Confederacy

First White House of the Confederacy

© First White House of the Confederacy

  • What is the First White House of the Confederacy?
    • The First White House of the Confederacy is a beautiful Italianate mansion in the historic area of downtown Montgomery that served as the residence of Jefferson Davis and his family in 1861, when Montgomery was the Capital of the Confederacy.
  • What role did the house play during the Confederacy?
    • Mrs. Davis held many lavish parties and receptions, making the house the social center of the South during her time there.
  • Has the house been relocated?
    • The house was originally built near the Alabama River but was later moved to its current location near the Alabama State Capitol, where it was fully restored and opened to the public in 1921.
  • What exhibits and artifacts can visitors see?
    • Many of the Davis family’s personal possessions, furniture, and art pieces were gifted by Mrs. Davis to the White House Association of Alabama, offering a glimpse into the life of a powerful family during turbulent times.
  • Is the First White House of the Confederacy open to the public?
    • Yes, the house is open to the public and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Where is the First White House of the Confederacy located?
    • 644 Washington Ave, Montgomery, AL 36130, 334-242-1861

4. Montgomery Zoo

Montgomery Zoo

© Courtesy of kenny 42952 - Fotolia.com

  • What can visitors experience at Montgomery Zoo?
    • Travel through the jungles of South America, explore the savannas of Africa, the mountains of Asia, and the grassy plains of North America to see zebras, tigers, camels, and monkeys roaming free across 40 beautiful acres near downtown Montgomery, without cages or barriers.
  • How many animals are at Montgomery Zoo?
    • Montgomery Zoo is home to more than 500 animals from all over the world.
  • What activities can visitors enjoy at the zoo?
    • Walk around the lush greens between habitats, take a ride on the charming miniature train, or go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the elephant or tiger habitats.
  • Are there any special animal encounters?
    • Visitors can meet the baby giraffe, Connye, and see various animals up close in unique encounters.
  • What programs does the zoo offer for children?
    • Give kids an exceptional experience by enrolling them in the day-long Montgomery Zoo Summer Camp, where they can learn about animals and conservation.
  • Is Montgomery Zoo a good family day trip?
    • Yes, the zoo is a great family day trip from Birmingham, offering fun and educational activities for all ages.
  • Where is Montgomery Zoo located?
    • 2301 Coliseum Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36110, 334-240-4900

5. Dexter Parsonage Museum - Dr. Martin Luther King Home

Dexter Parsonage Museum - Dr. Martin Luther King Home

© Dexter Parsonage Museum

  • What is the Dexter Parsonage Museum?
    • The house that holds the Dexter Parsonage Museum is a nine-room clapboard home built in 1912. It served as the home for 12 Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church pastors from 1920 to 1992, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his family.
  • When did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. live in the parsonage?
    • Dr. King and his family lived in the Dexter Parsonage from 1954 to 1960.
  • How has the house been preserved?
    • The house has been renovated to appear as it did when Dr. King and his family lived there. It includes living and dining room furniture, bedroom, and study furniture used by Dr. King.
  • What additional features does the museum include?
    • The museum also has an Interpretive Center and the outdoor King-Johns Garden for Reflection.
  • What can visitors see at the Interpretive Center?
    • The Interpretive Center features a permanent exhibit that includes:
      • Photographs of all 12 pastors who lived in the Dexter Parsonage.
      • The Wall of Pastoral Wisdom with inspiring quotes from various pastors.
      • Previously unpublished photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King, Montgomery ministers involved in the bus boycott, and much more.
  • Where is the Dexter Parsonage Museum located?
    • 309 S Jackson St, Montgomery, AL 36104, 334-261-3270

6. Museum of Alabama

Museum of Alabama

© Museum of Alabama

  • What is the Museum of Alabama?
    • The Museum of Alabama shares a beautiful stately building, built in 1940, with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
  • Where is the Museum of Alabama located?
    • The museum is located just across the street from the Alabama State Capitol in downtown Montgomery.
  • What is the focus of the Museum of Alabama?
    • The museum tells the story of Alabama's past—from prehistoric times to the present.
  • What are some significant permanent exhibitions?
    • Some of the most significant exhibitions include:
      • The Land of Alabama – Covers the natural resources and geology that shaped the state’s history.
      • The First Alabamians – A diorama showcasing 14,000 years of Native American culture, featuring colorful murals and original artifacts.
  • What is the centerpiece exhibit of the Museum?
    • The Alabama Voices exhibit describes dramatic events in Alabama’s history, from the early 1700s to the modern era.
  • What artifacts and materials does the Museum hold?
    • The museum holds:
      • Over 800 artifacts
      • Hundreds of documents and images
      • 22 contemporary audiovisual programs covering topics such as the wars over land, the cotton economy, the Civil War, world wars, and the rise of civil rights.
  • Where is the Museum of Alabama located?
    • 36130, 624 Washington Ave, Montgomery, AL, 334-242-4435

7. Alabama State Capitol

Alabama State Capitol

© Courtesy of Robert Hainer - Fotolia.com

  • What is the Alabama State Capitol?
    • Completed in 1851 in the Greek Revival style with evident Beaux-Arts influences, the Alabama State Capitol is a National Historic Landmark located in downtown Montgomery on what was once known as Goat Hill.
  • What is housed inside the Alabama State Capitol?
    • The Capitol contains a museum about Alabama State politics and history and serves as the seat of the state governor and other officers of the executive branch.
  • What role did the Capitol play in the Confederacy?
    • In 1861, after the Confederacy was born in the Senate chamber of this building, the Capitol served as the seat of the Confederate government.
  • What historical events took place at the Capitol?
    • The 1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March finished in front of the building, marking a significant moment in Civil Rights history.
  • What flag flew over the Alabama State Capitol?
    • A seven-starred version of the Confederate flag (Stars and Bars) flew over the Capitol for 30 years until a state court decision barred it in 1993.
  • Who landscaped the Capitol grounds?
    • The grounds were landscaped by the famous landscape artist Frederick Law Olmsted in 1889, and many of the trees he planted still stand today.
  • Where is the Alabama State Capitol located?
    • 600 Dexter Ave, Montgomery, AL 36130, 334-242-7100

8. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts

Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts

© Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts

  • What is the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts?
  • What does the museum’s permanent collection include?
    • The museum’s permanent collection contains sculptures, paintings, and other works of art by both regional and nationally renowned artists.
  • What is the highlight of the American Collection?
    • The most important part of the American Collection is the Blount Collection of American Art, which includes 41 paintings by artists such as Edward Hopper, John Singer Sargent, and Winslow Homer.
  • What notable prints are in the museum’s collection?
    • The museum houses a collection of prints by Old Masters, including works by Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, and James McNeill Whistler.
  • Does the museum host temporary exhibitions?
    • Yes, in addition to its permanent exhibits, the museum frequently hosts diverse temporary exhibitions featuring American and international art collections.
  • What activities does the museum offer for children?
    • An important part of the museum is ARTWORKS, a hands-on art studio and gallery designed specifically for kids.
  • Where is the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts located?
    • 1 Museum Dr., Montgomery, AL 36117, 334-240-4333

9. The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum

The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum

© The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum

  • What is the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum?
    • The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Alabama is the world’s only museum dedicated to writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, best known for The Great Gatsby, and his wife, Zelda Fitzgerald, an icon of the 1920s and the founder of the Flapper Movement.
  • Why is the museum located in Montgomery?
    • Zelda Fitzgerald grew up in Montgomery, and in 1931, the couple moved into the two-story brick and clapboard house in the Old Cloverdale neighborhood after traveling through Europe.
  • Who established the museum?
    • Julian McPhillips bought the house in 1986 and turned it into a museum to preserve the Fitzgerald legacy.
  • Is the museum open to the public?
    • Yes, the museum is open to the public and regularly hosts annual galas and various social events.
  • What exhibits can visitors see?
    • The museum contains a collection of photos, letters, books, and personal possessions belonging to the Fitzgeralds, offering an intimate glimpse into their lives.
  • Where is the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum located?
    • 919 Felder Ave #919, Montgomery, AL 36106, 334-264-4222

Montgomery events:
- Annual Riverwalk Wine Festival - October
- Alabama Shakespeare Festival - Year-round
- Riverbend Brew Fest
- Selma to Montgomery Relay and Bike Ride - March 15, 2025


Best Time to Visit Places to Stay Tips for Visiting
Spring (March-May) – Mild temperatures and beautiful blooming flowers. Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa – A luxurious stay in downtown Montgomery. Visit the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts – Explore a diverse collection of art and scenic outdoor gardens.
Summer (June-August) – Hot and ideal for indoor attractions and cultural experiences. Hampton Inn & Suites Montgomery-Downtown – A comfortable stay near historic landmarks. Tour the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice – Learn about civil rights history in a powerful setting.
Fall (September-November) – Cooler temperatures and great for exploring historic sites. The Lattice Inn – A charming bed & breakfast with Southern hospitality. Walk through Old Alabama Town – Discover restored 19th-century buildings and learn about local history.
Winter (December-February) – Mild weather and holiday festivities. DoubleTree by Hilton Montgomery – A centrally located hotel with modern amenities. Visit the Rosa Parks Museum – Learn about the life and impact of the civil rights icon.

Plan Your Trip


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