I do love a free museum and I love beautiful artworks, so stopping at the Montgomery Museum of Fine…read moreArts felt like an easy yes as we were passing through Alabama, especially since the museum offers free entry and free parking and keeps generous hours most days of the week . The building sits inside the Blount Cultural Park, and once you step inside you realize how much there is to see here, from American paintings to regional art to a wide range of decorative works drawn from a collection of more than 4,000 pieces. We ended up spending about two hours wandering through the galleries, which felt just right for a relaxed visit before getting back on the road. The museum's layout makes it easy to move from one gallery to the next without feeling rushed, and the mix of sculptures, paintings, and glasswork keeps things interesting, especially when you turn a corner and find something completely different in tone or scale. The Caddell Sculpture Garden adds another dimension to the experience, offering an outdoor space designed for reflection and seasonal change. Accessibility is clearly a priority here, with elevators to all floors, seating throughout the galleries, accessible restrooms, and even EnChroma glasses available for color‑blind visitors upon request . Free Wi‑Fi is available indoors and outdoors, and the museum shop has been recently renovated to highlight work by regional artists, which makes it a pleasant final stop before heading out again though they were only accepting cash today as the credit card machine was broken. All in all, it's the kind of museum that rewards both a quick visit and a longer stay, and it's absolutely worth the stop if you're anywhere near Montgomery. [Review 306 of 2026 - 287 in Alabama - 25494 overall]

Really exceptional art collection in a lovely location…read more Worth your time and money!! Finding the location and parking were both easy. Gift shop was not entirely wonderful...no compelling "must buys"

If you're a Fitzgerald fan, this museum is a must-visit when in Montgomery. Visiting the area on a…read moreweekend, it's also one of the only places in the city open on Sundays. Admission is $5 and no need to reserve online. Walk in and the woman who leads the house museum gives an overview of Scott and Zelda and the house. The house itself has a few rooms with lots of artifacts from the authors. There also an art room of Zelda's work and one dedicated to Scottie, their only daughter. The top floor has two Airbnb rooms- one called Zelda and one Scott.

Really cool museum and historical location. I came here to do a paranormal investigation with…read moreSouthern Ghost Girls on 6 June 25. It was a fantastic event. We got a lot of time to explore the museum and had some cool things happen that make me believe the location is in fact haunted. You can rent the bedroom suites on the second floor as air bnb. I think that's pretty cool too!

This is the best museum we have seen on our civil rights tour so far. Lots of movie clips…read moreintegrated with the exhibits so sitting alternates with standing and listening and watching alternates with reading. Take the Time machine ride in the children's wing first if you possibly can. And watch for references to all the women leading the movement that we often don't hear about.

The absolute one thing I wanted to do when I found out I was going to be in the Montgomery region…read morewas to come to this museum. My heart broke when I was online looking at the surrounding areas and saw that this was (at that time) temporarily closed. Due to updating of exhibits with new technology. I was a bit down because of this because I have been obsessed with Rosa Parks since high school. I was just going to let it slide until I did a bit more researching while in the city. I went to their website and noticed that they were reopening on MLK Day...the day I was to leave to head back home. I started to hatch a plan to allow me to visit, I couldn't pass it up. With them opening up on MLK Day they were doing a special where you got half off admissions. Not that bad of a deal. There are two portions to this museum, the main exhibit and a children's portion of it. Both cost $7 and when I found out I was going to pay just $7 for both that day, I thought why not. But I will touch on this a bit later. DISCLAIMER: Don't be like me and take pictures, it is not allowed. Let me explain. When I came here I was in a rush, when I came inside I was asked if I was here for the museum or if I was here to use the restroom. They were allowing people gathering for the MLK Day parade outside use the restroom. I said that I was here for the museum. The guy working the host stand hurried me into the museum as a group just went in. Rushing me in since the start of the museum was a video presentation. With that, he did the honor system with me (yet again), told me to pay and opened the door and let me inside. With all the hurry of getting inside, I wasn't given time to read anything of the rules or be given a rundown or the rules. More on this a bit later in the review. Once you enter you are greeted by a replica of the Montgomery City Bus that Rosa Parks stood her ground on. The bus is equipped with video screens that fill in for the windows. This portion of the museum is totally immersive, as you watch the interaction taking place on the bus, hearing the overhead voice to fill in the gaps, watching the actors portraying the events, lights guiding your eyes to parts in the room to keep you in the moment (portions outside of the bus). Also, you will notice that you are on what is supposed to be a street. The street that this historic event takes place, once you figure this out you will notice you are technically standing in front of the theater, near a payphone. But you are immersed into it all that you don't realize it until the lights come up and guide you to the rest of the museum. Once out of this you then go through each and every moment that followed Ms. Parks action. Including MLK's entrance into the movement, the use of personal cars to help people get to work when boycotting the bus (and the targeting of the those given rides), The eventual end of the boycott, the continued progression of the Civil Rights Movement, and so on. All the while educating you. I wish I could have met Ms. Parks in person, this museum brought more information to light for me about her. This should be called a memorial on top of a museum and library. To touch base on the admission. The other portion of this is a children's based interaction and could be skipped by adults in you do not want to take this in. It is an interactive 'ride.' You enter the 'bus' and are driven through history. It is made to be an educational tool to teach children about segregation. The bus is meant to be a time machine that mashes up history a bit by having historical figures 'meet' and educate those on the ride. The bus does move and vibrate and there are flashing lights, it is interesting to experience, but not a must.

This is the most profound museum I have ever been to and I have been telling everyone that they…read morehave to go here. I had a chance to visit this museum twice this year, the first time to experience it myself and do some recon for planning a group trip, & the second time I hosted a group of about 25 people to visit. Truly a powerful experience. The interactive pieces and number of 1st hand accounts made it impactful. A few tips: -Eat right before going in since you don't want hunger to cut your trip early. I highly recommend eating at the restaurant in the museum which is Pannie-Georgie's. It's great southern food and they have small private rms for groups that worked well for us. -Note there's not many places to sit inside. To get a little break from reading yourself and standing, go check out the films that play in the circular small theaters throughout the museum. -All the museum staff standing around are also resources for you and your group if you are struggling with the content. It's also helpful that you can go in and out and take a breather outside. There's a nice park and a coffee/donut shop kiddie-corner to the museum for a break. The first time I was here, I stayed for about 3.5 hrs and couldn't go through it all since I like to read everything. The second time I was able to take in the art museum pieces that I missed my first time. You'll most likely need to visit this museum at least twice to soak it in. This a must-see museum and I suggest going here first before the sculpture garden and memorial to have more knowledge going into those. It helped me just be and experience the other legacy sites more.

Every American should visit The Legacy Museum. Telling the story of slavery to mass incarceration,…read moreit powerfully tells the most whole story about the Black experience in the U.S.A. Here's our experience. 1) Tickets: Traveling in a group of 22, we easily got our tickets from the staff ahead of time. One QR code worked for our entire group. After going through security that's like airport security, we were inside the museum. 2) Museum: First of all, turn off your phones as no photos of videos are allowed. In a sacred space as this, respect the request. Take your time to read everything and watch every room. If the room is small, each wall duplicates the content to help with the flow. This isn't repeated in the larger rooms. Most rooms have a theater area, which is worth popping in. EJI videos are award-winning and worth your time. One of the strengths of the museum is leading with data. They powerfully show data that moves you toward action. As you end the museum, you'll go through an art gallery. On your way out, buy books in the bookstore to learn more. 3) Experience: It's a sobering museum, but one worth your time. Budget to spend 3-4 hours to take everything in. Afterwards, don't skip the nearby Legacy Park to reflect on what you witnessed and grieve the brutal story of America.

So much important history in one small building. Don't skip this museum. Tells the story of the…read moreFreedom Riders. The people who work there are incredibly kind and helpful.

They stood up so that we could sit down…read more Another stable to stop at while visiting Alabama. The Freedom Riders Museum has a lot of information on the Freedom riders. They tell the story through the words of the freedom riders during the civil rights movements. You learn about the routes they took and all the obstacles they had to put up with. The museum also has a lot of good books on sale and My friend And I purchased some. The only thing I wished was the museum was bigger and had more things to view. Until next review Kisses

Parking here can be tricky. I was able to find some free street parking. There is metered street…read moreparking available as well within a reasonable walking distance. Outside you will find a waterfall running down a wall that has a quote from Martin Luther King. There is also a large circular black granite water table that has the names of 41 people killed (Martyrs) in the name of the civil rights struggle. It was designed by Maya Lin in 1989. In order to enter here you must have a must, submit to a temperature check and go through security screening. This is one of the few museum in the area that allows photos inside. The Center is very small. The first room that you come to is the The Martyr Room and features 74 people, that are known as "The Forgotten", and the 41 "Civil Rights Martyrs" that are listed on the memorial outside. Sadly, it is an extensive list and has Emmet Till, Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, and other less notable names. The main section of the Center is the Apathy is Not an Option: Orientation Theater. It seats about 75 or so and is very nice. The movie that they play here is on a schedule and the timer is located in the previous room. It tells you when the next showing is. The movie is amazing and is a must see. It is well put together. I really loved it and am glad that I waited for it. The rest of the Center has pictures of people on the walls with phrases and/or personal stories on them It is titled The March Continues: Today's Activist. The Center's last area is the Wall of Justice: A Space of Reflection, a video wall with names falling down. You can put your name on the wall, by agreeing to a pledge. It does not stay there, so if you are going to get a picture of it then you better do it fast. You end you tour in the small gift shop that sells key chains, t-shirt, and pencils/pens, and pictures. It does not take long to make it through the center. I spent about 45 minutes here and that included watching the movie. There is not much to the Center, but is is still worth a visit if you are in the area and have time.

I wouldn't call this a museum. Memorial center, as named, is appropriate…read more It is worthwhile as the staff are super nice and helpful, the film is informative, and it goes over personal accounts of those involved in the civil rights struggle. But that's about all that's here. This isn't in-depth; it took me less than an hour to complete my visit--but it's a good adjunct to the EJI museum and memorial. And near the freedom rides museum. Each museum is only five dollars, so you can see the EJI museum and memorial, the civil rights memorial center, and the freedom rides museum for 15 total dollars. Why not?

A fantastic collection of outsider and folk art. Mrs. Webber is a fount of knowledge and kindness…read morewho is adept at making you feel at home in her gallery. Pay her a visit, learn a thing or two, and take home to precious cargo :)

My original post: While Marcia Weber offers a very well-selected gallery of artists, I felt taken…read moreadvantage of on a $600 painting I bought (not a fortune, but a committment just the same). I was told when I purchased it I could sit with it a while to decide if it was for me. I did not expect to need to return anything so I didn't think much of it. However, when I got the painting in the room it just didn't work. I tried a lot of design adjustments because the piece really spoke to me and I wanted it to work, and in honesty, I did take several months to go to lengths to make interior changes, and try it in other rooms as well, but it just really didn't do the rooms or the piece justice the way they juxtaposed. But when I emailed a bit later to ask if I could return it for a credit because it just didn't work, Marcia never responded. I emailed again, again asking not for the promised refund, but a credit, and still no reply. It was clear that she was not interested in my business after she'd taken my money. As much as I like the artists she represents, I do not anticipate buying from her again based on how she treated me, and the hollow promises of satisfaction or a return option. I hope she treats the artists better than she did me, and I hope Matilda Pennic got a fair percentage of that $600. 2014 Update: In response to my honest review posted two years ago, I just received the below message, through Yelp messages, from Marcia. (I still have the emails I sent you Marcia, which were from the same email account I used to purchase the item. It was months after purchase, not years.) I'm sorry that Ms. Weber doesn't like getting a review that holds her accountable for how she treats her customers, but this is reality. My experience is exactly as stated in my review. Would Ms. Weber like to do something to resolve the issue, or bully me for speaking honestly about my experience? ----------------------------------- Hi L, Marcia W. sent you a message on Yelp: Subject: Your Review "I never received an email OR a simple phonecall from you about this situation. I would have answered you and resolved it if so. I'm surprised by your unreasonable expectations. Grow up and get over it. Namaste, Marcia" ---------------------------------- Marcia is basically using Yelp messages as a proxy for harassment. This has been reported to Yelp, and I have saved this page as a pdf for my records should harassment persist. I was treated poorly and was refused a promised return, and now I am being harassed? Ridiculous. Marcia, art doesn't expire or go stale, so why not offer to resolve the issue here and now? Why not make right if you ever had an intention of doing so? A decent business owner would say nothing and accept responsibility for her actions, and even learn from it. Or, perhaps offer to do something to remedy the situation. I think Marcia's defensive, deflective attitude (notice there is no apology or kindness) speaks volumes about her real attitude toward her "refund" policy, and her nastiness is quite telling that she did deliberately dodge my attempts at contact and resolution in the first place. Telling someone "Grow up and get over it" after you swindled them, is like mean-girl psychotic. I don't think I am the one who needs to grow up.

It's a great starting point for tourists visiting Montgomery for the first time. It's the Museum of…read moreAlabama that was the highlight for me. Do not pass this up thinking it's just a building housing the state archives. It's much more than that. Also, it's free to the public. They have free (but limited) parking in a lot behind the building on Adams Avenue, and next to the MOOseum. We visited later in the afternoon on a weekday (and towards the end of my trip). I wish I had spent more time in this building. We were automatically greeted to warm & friendly faces when entering the building. The gentlemen at the visitor area gave us a map and went over all the key areas to visit starting with the first floor. We started in the Statuary Hall which has a life sized "Hiker" statue. This one is commemorating Alabamian foot soldiers in the Spanish-American War. There are bronze busts of historical figures. The most recent additions are two equal voting rights activists, Pattie Ruffner Jacobs and Amelia Boynton Robinson. The second floor exhibits were all very informative. There's a hands on gallery for kids in Grandma's Attic. The "Land of Alabama" has displays and a short film of the state's geography and resources. I found the "Alabamians in the Great War" exhibit very interesting. There were a little over 85,000 Alabamians who fought in the war. About 2,500 died fighting in France. There's a unique display of trench art. There were some very skillful & decorative displays of a helmet, and some personal items made by servicemen to pass the time in between combat. Some items even showcased metalworking skills. These were much more elaborate than just a doodle on a piece of paper. A very cool part of the collection. The best exhibit by far was "Alabama Voices". It's a Smithsonian quality exhibit that needs a revisit. I didn't get to go through every single voice, but I will next time. You start your journey by entering left into this exhibit. It was a much larger exhibit than anticipated. It starts you off in the 1700s and goes through the events that shaped Alabama. There were about 21 or 22 audiovisual areas that start a narration (The Voices) via motion detection. There are artifacts and documents throughout. They did a great job putting together this exhibit. It's definitely worth a visit!

This museum showcased the history of Alabama from the earliest time and on to present day. This…read moremuseum was so well done with history from various time periods. It showcased the early statehood and cotton plantations. The civil war and depression and the war periods. This was such a nice visit and so informative. I would recommend all families coming through Montgomery to bring their families here for a well done history of this area and Alabama.

Wonderful experience and history lesson that everyone should experience if given the opportunity.read more

archa Lucy Betsey were enslaved women that were experimented on by Dr. J. Marian Sims in the 1840s,…read moreall in the name of science. Each iron sculpture is distinctly different and is adorned with the tools that replicate what were used during the surgeries as well as pieces of beauty like the variations of sculpted flowers. As you walk around the More Up Campus you will see panels explaining the healthcare practices for women of color and how it was predominantly performed by black midwives and was quickly dismantled by white men with influence who believed that science and invasive tools were the best way to care for women's bodies. It is with much gratitude and appreciation that I thank these Mothers of Gynecology.

If you like good ole country music stop in Montgomery and see Hank Williams museum. Currently the…read moreprice is $15 for anyone 18 and up. They have a wonderful collection of his history there. You cannot take your own photos but someone there will take a photo of you in front of his car with your phone or camera. There is a gift shop full of novelties, T-shirts, record and more. Great little stop.

it's a small, but lovely museum in Downtown Montgomery...family operated and curated…read more Worth your time and money...the Cadillac alone is worth the visit.