There are some places you visit, and then there are places that stay with you. The National…read moreMemorial for Peace and Justice is one of those places. Opened in 2018 by the Equal Justice Initiative, this memorial honors more than 4,400 African American men, women, and children who were victims of racial terror lynchings between 1877 and 1950. It tells a story that is painful, sobering, and absolutely essential to confront. As you enter, the experience is quiet and intentional. Steel rectangular monuments are arranged by state and county, each engraved with the names of victims and the dates they were killed. At first, the columns stand at eye level. You can look directly at the names. But as you continue walking, the ground gradually slopes downward and the columns begin to rise above you. It is impossible not to understand the symbolism. The markers are roughly human-sized. As you descend and look upward, they resemble bodies suspended overhead. That realization hit me deeply. The weight of it -- the scale of it -- settles into your chest. It is heavy. It should be. Along the walls, detailed plaques explain the circumstances behind many of the lynchings. Some victims were murdered by mobs of hundreds or even thousands. Some were killed for reasons so trivial and unjust -- accusations, perceived slights, even something as simple as having a photograph of a white woman. You quickly realize how little it took, and how terrifying daily life must have been for Black Americans living under that constant threat of violence. Near the exit, there is a waterfall installation representing the countless undocumented lynchings -- lives lost that may never be fully known. It is a quiet but powerful reminder that even this memorial cannot capture the entire scope of the tragedy. Outside, each hanging monument is duplicated and laid flat across the grounds. This allows visitors to read each name more closely. I deeply appreciated this thoughtful design choice. Every name is treated with dignity and equality. As you walk among them, you may notice multiple names from the same county on the same date -- entire acts of mob violence frozen in steel. Further along, sculptures and signage from various states and counties acknowledge the history and efforts toward reconciliation. The Equal Justice Initiative encourages each county represented to claim its monument and publicly confront its history. Many have begun to do so. Many still have not. The memorial asks visitors to be respectful and to stay off the grass. There are restrooms available on site. Everything about the space is orderly, intentional, and reverent. This is not an easy place to visit. It is not meant to be. But it is profoundly important. If you are in Montgomery, this is a must-visit. It provides critical context for understanding why the end of slavery, Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights Movement were not just historical milestones -- but moral necessities born from immense suffering. I would give this memorial 10 out of 5 stars if I could. Go. Walk slowly. Read the names. Remember.

One of three Legacy Sites (soon to be four with Montgomery Park opening in 2026), this one is a…read moremonument honoring the victims of racial terror lynching between the 1870s and 1950s in the U.S.A. Tickets can be ordered online for a very affordable price. Once inside, walk a mile path taking the time to read every sign and see the names of victims of the racial terror lynchings. Unlike the other two Legacy Sites, you can take photos and videos. Despite this, be respectful. It's sacred ground. After you go through the main monument, the path weaves through a sculpture park as well as duplicate permanent markers honoring the victims of racial terror lynchings across the country. The ticket price is very affordable. If you're moved, consider making a donation to support the work of EJI. They maintain the spaces not because of government grants, but because of the support of the people.

Beautiful fountain with a a deep history!! It's in a beautiful part of the town. The city is just…read moreenriched in history and is a must see. It is gorgeous and you can tell the city keeps this well maintained. To park, you'd have to find street parking or a lot a walk over but it absolutely worth it and view the Capital from the fountain. There are also shopping and lunch spots are within walking distance. No matter what your ancestry is, you should see this and learn about the history of Montgomery, Alabama.

My daughter did a report on Rosa Parks in school and on a road trip down to Gulf Shores we decided…read moreto come see her bus stop. In getting a photo with Rosa, we were in awe of the cast iron Court Square Fountain-- which is directly in front of the stop. There's a gorgeous Greek goddess on top of it. Birds at the base. I'm told there are others like it in Memphis and Bowling Green. We met a local as we were sightseeing and he said the fountain was the center of slave trade. Slaves, livestock and land were auctioned at this spot. Overall there is so much history involved with Court Square Fountain! Very cool, worth a see.

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.

Such an amazing day on the grounds of the Capital, uniting with people that believe in equality and…read morethe rights for fair democracy in this state and country. We are better together!

On our journey to visit all 50 capital cities and capitol buildings, we landed in Montgomery,…read moreAlabama this day. The building is a gorgeous and brilliant white. It sits upon a hill. As you approach, you are greeted with a large wooden door that's quite heavy to pull open. Security is quick and courteous. After we received wristbands, we were orientated on the history of the building and grounds. Points of interest include the room where the 7 state leaders met to vote for secession from the Union and the room where Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Confederacy. The seemingly floating cantilevered stairs leading to these rooms were designed and engineered by a former slave. The gift shop is large with a wonderful collection of Alabama pottery, jewelry, housewares, food items, and more. Bathrooms are clean and well kept.

This memorial is located on the outside of the Legacy Museum in a small plaza. It is located behind…read morewhere the shuttle picks up to take visitors to the memorial park. This is a very nice memorial that is intended to honor the thousands of Black people lynched in the years immediately following emancipation, whose names may never be known. The memorial has bench seating on its permitter and features a fountain that lists 560 names of lynching victims, a small representation of the thousands killed between 1865 and 1876. You will find sculptures of 3 African heads of different ages coming out from the center of the water fountain. They are very detailed and almost look real. I can feel their pain. At the end of the fountain you will see a wall that reads a follow: "May we never forget all those who suffered and died because they asserted their basic human right to be free". It is very somber memorial and is respectfully done. It educated me as well. I really did not think about the mass lynchings that were conducted post emancipation by white mobs. The fact that everyone was not happy and did not approve of emancipation is commonly overlooked. Many of those people resorted to violence to express their disapproval and maintain supremacy. I like this mural. It is a one of a kind and honors a somewhat forgotten group. The fountain/water table, sculptures and wall and masterfully done and look awesome. You just have to see it for yourself. Anyway, as with most memorials that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. More than likely you will stop here while visiting the Legacy Museum, but if not, you should at least make this part of a larger itinerary.

As an artist and art educator I appreciate a well designed and curated museum and this one is…read moreperhaps one of the best I've ever been in. Really powerful stuff here, I think every adult in America needs to experience it. I would caution that I think it would take a well prepared and mature child to visit here, it really drives home America's ugly racial past.

I'm not a huge Hank Williams fan, but I can appreciate any city that wants to memorialize a member…read moreof their city. And let me tell you, Montgomery has a few that are notable in the city. This one is notable because of where it is located. Right outside Riverfront Park, near multiple hotels, and not far from a major downtown eatery alley. It is hard to miss it as it is prominently displayed at the intersection. I am sure that when you see the statue while you are driving by you really don't understand what you are seeing. But seeing it by foot, you get a little more information. I also have to mention that this sits about a half block from the Hank Williams Museum which pays homage to the late singer. It also sits on what I would consider to be a celebrity walk. Behind the statue, in the sidewalk, are quotes of famous Alabamans.

Hank Williams, Senior was one of the most significant country music artists in history, recording…read more35 singles that would place in the Top 10 of the Billboard Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked number one. Among the hits he wrote were "Your Cheatin' Heart", "Hey, Good Lookin'", and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". A personal tie to Montgomery, living here in his early years and also hosting a radio show, his funeral was held here. The marker next to the statue and fountain reads "The death of songwriter and singer Hank Williams on January 1, 1953 stunned his legion of devoted fans. On Sunday, January 4, family members viewed the body at his mother's boarding house at 217 McDonough Street. The casket was then brought four blocks to the Municipal Auditorium. Some 2,750 mourners crowded inside for the service while another 20,000 stood vigil outside int he cold. Many of country music's headliners, including the reunited Drifting Cowboys, sang at the funeral. In 1991, Hank Williams, Jr. commissioned Texas sculptors Doug and Sandra McDonald to create the life-sied statue of his father that faces the auditorium." If you're a fan of country music, or you just like the covers of his songs done by great artists including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and more, then stop here and pay tribute to "Luke the Drifter."

THE FORGOTTEN LANDMARK, DON'T MISS IT!!…read more The Montgomery Union Station and Trainshed is a historic building that tends to fall in the shadow of all of the great historical buildings and monuments in the city. However, I really think that it deserves to be mentioned along with the city's other landmarks as it is a truly beautiful building. This train station was first opened in 1898 and saw its last passenger in 1979. It has had a number of tenants since that time and is now the home of the Montgomery Area Visitor Center, and a number of other commercial tenants including a Thai restaurant with a very clever name: Railroad Thai. Several passenger trains used the station until the 50's and 60's when service began to decrease. It wasn't until 1973 that this building was placed on the historic registry and it took another three years for it to be recognized as a historic landmark. This building is located at 300 Water Street, (along the Riverwalk), just steps away from the Alabama River. Before you dart into the Visitor's Center to quickly grab information, take a long look at this building from every angle. As you face the building, you will have a great view of the approaching train, (which seems to run about every 20 minutes), from the left side of the building. You also get a great view of the shed from this side. Now go across the street to the hotel parking lot and take it ALL in. You will then want to come back over and focus on the details. Once you enter the Visitor's Center, look up down and all around. Check out the architectural details and the stained glass window. Look at that floor! Cool Huh? Wait a minute!! You forgot to walk outside to experience the cool and shade of the shed. You will notice an old yellow electric streetcar that rests behind gates. The city's streetcars were discontinued in 1936 in favor of buses. This shed the perfect space to have private and community events because there are restrooms outside and it provides great privacy. During the weekend that we visited, firemen were using the space for a cooking challenge and it was also being used to escape the heat, rest a bit and grab something to eat. This is one of the city's landmarks that is not to be missed so make sure that you take time to enjoy it when visiting!

MONTGOMERY'S CONFEDERATE MONUMENT ON CAPITOL HILL…read more The Confederate monument is not located on Bainbridge, it is actually located on the left side of the capitol on Monroe. You will have to climb steps to actually reach this monstrosity. It has a huge presence with its very wide base and soaring height, (88 feet tall). It was built to recognize the 122,000 Alabamians who fought in the Civil War. Surrounding the structure are four statures representing the four branches: artillery, infantry, calvary and navy. There are also battle scenes depicted along with the words " "Alabama honors her sons who died in her service." I found it interesting that this was the one monument (that I've noticed), that was not commissioned by the Daughters of the Confederacy. It was actually a very involved process, (starting in 1865) that included fundraising, soliciting the government and requesting private donations. In 1866, appeals from the state of Virginia to help bury Alabama's dead soldiers halted fundraising efforts and did not resume until 1882. The monument was finally competed and dedicated in 1898, seventeen years after the initial fund raising started. This monument originally featured four Confederate flags, but they were removed in 2015.

This is an amazing monument on the grounds of the Capitol which honors those who fought for the…read moreConfederacy and died during the Civil War. It stands 88 feet high. The detail of this monument is incredible. We just finished a tour of the Capitol, so just had to walk around the building to see this monument. Well worth the stop. A great piece of history.

The Governor's Mansion is a beautiful home located in a residential area of Montgomery. As of this…read morewriting, tours are given on Tuesday's and Thursday's from 10-2, so unfortunately, we weren't able to do a tour since we were in Montgomery over the weekend.

This was a true gem! We thoroughly enjoyed touring this beautiful home and chatting with one of the…read morecurators. The furnishings are beautiful and appropriate to the period. We were stunned to learn that the house was moved to its current location in 1921!!!

I don't really have much to say about this place as I didn't have time to go inside and do a tour…read more I only got to see this from the outside and take in some history that I wasn't expecting and honestly, was not something that existed. Earlier the day before we drove past this on a bus and our driver pointed it out to us. Our driver was more informative than anyone else I met in Montgomery. He was the one that informed us all that this is not where this house was originally and that it was moved to the current location. I honestly did learn something while visiting. I always thought the capital of the Confederacy was in Richmond, VA. I never knew that the first capital was in Montgomery. Almost like it was something not taught. The house was beautiful, even with all its baggage that comes with it. Well maintained and preserved. History, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, is still part of the fabric of time.