Have you ever looked for a postcard while in Montgomery? Well, they are far and few between! When I…read morearrived on a Sunday, I went to Walmart and Target, and to my dismay, no postcards. On Yelp, I saw a souvenir shop listed, Tours of Montgomery. But it wasn't open until Tuesday. I continued to look and am so happy I didn't find any postcards on Sunday or Monday, because the experience of going to Tours of Montgomery on Tuesday was priceless! We pulled into the parking area for the store (which is in the front), and as we walked up, I said, "Even the outside is adorable!" As you walk into the store, you are transported through the history of Montgomery! From the moment we arrived in the store, Ms. Valerie took care of us immediately, asking what we were looking for. When I mentioned postcards, she directed me to the various sections with postcards in a way that made it feel like I was buying something more valuable than a postcard! As she interacted with us, the conversation was natural. Her shop was a Tour of Montgomery with shirts, statues, prints, paintings, magnets, and so much more that covered every aspect of history in Montgomery! Then we talked about the neighborhood that the store is in. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. walked down the road in front of the corner where the store is, across the street is the hotel where Billy Holiday played on the top floor, down the street, the first black theater, and in the other direction, the first black grocery store. All of the history was in one location, but even more special was that Ms. Valerie took the time to explain it all to my friend and me, who had stopped in for a postcard. She showed so much love for us in that 45 minutes that I would have stayed hours if allowed. If you are ever in Montgomery and want to experience a piece of Montgomery history or just purchase a postcard, this shop is the place to go. It's been one of my favorite experiences in Montgomery and Ms. Valerie will make it worth your time!

Valerie Smedley is FANTASTIC! Not only is she one of the friendliest people I've ever been blessed…read moreto meet, but she gives an impeccable, personal and deep dive tour of historic proportions---literally. PLUS she has a super cool gift shop--I bought a t-shirt that reads: Never argue with anyone Harriet would leave behind Next time I get to Montgomery, I will definitely stop in just to say hello because she's that wonderful--a new friend I adore!

Wonderful experience! The staff was extremely thoughtful greeting us with cold water bottles at the…read moredoor. They were very patient with our 5 and 7 year olds who asked so many questions that were answered thoroughly. Thank you for being one of the highlights of our historic trip!

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.

So much history is simply demolished. Some cities, like Montgomery, have sites such as these that…read morereassemble these otherwise forgotten bits of bygone days. It's fun to ramble through these old buildings that are all quite well-preserved. If you have children, multiply the time you spend here by two or three or four.

January 12, 2013, Tony and I did a self guided walking tour of Montgomery, Al. We had a great day…read more The weather was warm and lovely. We happened upon this 6 block historical section of old homes in Montgomery, Al. There are new homes here. Here is a brief history of the buildings: Tour the Authentic 19th Century Village Today There are no facades or newly constructed buildings here! Our 19th century village features completely authentic 19th and early 20th century homes and buildings that have been saved from demolition, carefully restored, and reopened to the public as a history museum. At Old Alabama Town, you will learn how early Americans of all backgrounds lived and worked in Central Alabama. History lives at Old Alabama Town, where six blocks of authentically restored 19th and early 20th century structures beckon you to step back in time to the days of one-room... Self-Guided Tours We offer self-guided tours Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last ticket is sold at 3 p.m., though visitors are free to explore until 4 p.m. Upon purchasing admission at the Old Alabama Town Reception Center, guests will receive a property map to guide them on their walking tour of our Living and Working Blocks. Visitors are free to explore at their own pace and leave and return throughout the day. Costumed interpreters are available on each block to answer questions. A fully guided tour of the Ordeman House is also included in general admission. Tours of the Ordeman House are available Monday-Friday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Ordeman tour times are subject to change without notice. Call 1-888-240-1850 on the day of your visit to confirm times.

Montgomery Civil Rights Walk of Freedom Self-Guided (GPS) Walking Tour…read more As a retired 20-year veteran who grew up during the Watts Riots, I've seen a lot in this country--but I can honestly say this experience gave me something I didn't know I was missing. Taking this walk through Montgomery alongside my younger brother made it even more meaningful. We lost our mother early in life, so moments like this--where we can learn, reflect, and grow together--carry a different kind of weight. This wasn't just a tour for us; it was a chance to connect with each other and with a history that wasn't fully taught to us growing up. Hearing the stories of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks while standing where it all happened brought a level of understanding I never got in school. It filled in gaps and gave voice to experiences that shaped not only the country, but generations like ours. The self-guided format allowed us to take our time, have conversations, and really absorb what we were learning. There was no rush--just space to reflect, remember, and appreciate how far we've come and how much more there is to understand. For me, this was more than history--it was personal, it was healing, and it was something I'm grateful I got to share with my brother Mark.

We visited the Legacy Museum on Jan 8, 2026 as part of Road Scholar's "The Civil Rights Movement -…read moreAtlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham" program. It is one of the three Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) Legacy sites in Montgomery, AL, and one of the two where photography is not allowed. The latter was emphasized at the security checkpoint, of which there was only one line. I surrendered my foldable (smartphone) tripod to the staff, and would later do it two more times at the other two sites. Within the exhibition halls, staff members are positioned every 100 feet (give or take) to ensure visitors are on their best behaviors, i.e. no photography, no vandalism, etc. The transatlantic slave trade is the subject of the first two halls, with the first focusing on the transits of the captured from Africa. Sets of pictorial, written and video content fill every wall. There is no particular order of viewing. The next hall continues with the arrival, transactions and transits from ports to new colonies in the New World. Life-sized models of slaves naked and in chains act as passageway that visitors pass to move on. Despite being previously informed, I did not understand the sheer volume of the museum's content. I stopped to read every content in detail because of the no-photography policy. By the time I was done perusing the transatlantic slave trade, more than 30 minutes had passed. One section consists of small rooms designed to look like prison cells, each showing a brief holographic projection of a moment in the life of a slave. These projections are triggered by motion sensors. Another hall focuses on federal and state court decisions - most of them ruling against African-Americans - as well as numerous hate crimes and other (violent) racial injustices, all of which that had occurred since Reconstruction. Past that is a larger hall that displays copies of newspaper ads of slaves for sale on one side, and life during Reconstruction on the other. I had started to peruse the latter when I realized that I was approaching two hours in time spent in the museum. Deciding to head on to the other two sites, I was surprised to discover many more sections - including an art gallery - and the volume of content in each that I would miss. The Legacy Museum requires up to a day to truly appreciate its treasure. It is certainly worth visiting given its low admission price ($5 as of Jan 2026). However, I do not give this 5 stars because of the unnecessary security checkpoint to do the boat ride from Boat Launch at 101 Morris Street to Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, and vice versa. See attached image for further details At 12:56pm, after visiting the National Memorial for Peace and Justice (NMPJ), I showed up at Boat Launch. There was a security checkpoint. I was told to turn over my tripod before getting on the boat. The big, burly bespectacled guy in the suit claimed that tripods could be used to vandalize the sculptures, and I could take the boat back and to this pier to get it back. He gave no explanation as to how a tripod would be a hazardous or dangerous object on a boat ride itself. The Sculpture Park has its own security checkpoint where I would turn over the tripod, and I wasn't planning on coming back to this pier just to pick up my tripod. It would be a waste of time. So I waited for the shuttle to take me back to the Legacy Museum after stopping over at NMPJ. When I finally arrived at Sculpture Park, 45 minutes of my time was wasted. This limited the time spent there. There was no necessity to have security checkpoint at Boat Launch when Sculpture Park has its own security checkpoint. Until EJI Legacy updates their policy to one that makes sense, this EJI site gets no more than three stars.

Oh my gosh!! This musuem and all it offers needs to be seen by everyone! It is beautifully curated…read moreinto 4 Legacy sites. Transportation on a air conditioned shuttle takes you to any of the 4 Legacy sites. Each site is unique to sharing the history, painful as it can be to remember, of lynching, slavery, and the fight to freedom. The museum is indoors and I spent 2 hrs and only got through 1/4 of the museum. I explored the lynching memorial site which is outdoors and provides a wealth of information on slaves lynched in America. They also offered a boat ride to an outdoor Freedom park with thoughtfully crafted pieces of art, breathtaking monuments and historical artifacts. I did not have time to visit the last Legacy site before it closed but I now have a reason to go back! It was a park dedicated to Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Not only was I taken aback from the detail placed into each Legacy site but to know they only charge $5 for all of it. On top of the fact that they provide motorized vehicles for those in need. This is hands down the best history musuem I have encountered. I suggest everyone visit! The staff is very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about it all. They showed great pride in what has been created here.

We visited the National Memorial for Peace and Justice (NMPJ) on Jan 8, 2026 as part of Road…read moreScholar's "The Civil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham" program. It is one of the three Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) Legacy sites in Montgomery, AL, and the only one where photography is allowed. Like with the other two sites, security checkpoint is present and I surrendered my foldable (smartphone) tripod. While the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park has a collection of artwork in a park setting, the entire area of the NMPJ can be seen as a single artwork of many sections, like the long wall mural in Dexter Ave Baptist Church (also in Montgomery; within walking distance from the Legacy Museum). The first section of NMPJ is a large grassy area bordered by walkways, wall-mounted written content on the subject of "from slavery to lynching". and the Nkyinkyim Installation sculpture. I don't know if picnics or napping on the grassy area is allowed. I didn't ask. Walking from this area to the next section took time. The next section, being the memorial temple, is the highlight of NMPJ. An open structure that houses numerous tall tablets resembling coffins. Each tablet bears the names of county and state, followed by the names of lynching victims and their respective dates of death. Initially, the tablets look like they are resting on the floor. At the center of the temple is a grassy square accessible from multiple points. Standing at the center of the square, the visitor can see the sheer masses of deaths memorialized within the temple. (Photos and footages are found on my YouTube channel @1Somber. Look for video title "Day 5: National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Freedom Monument Sculpture Park" in playlist "2026-1: The Civil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham".) At one end of the structure, the path turns right to a corridor that slopes down. I then realized that the tablets are hanging from the ceiling. When the corridor reaches the bottom level, the tables are hanging over my head. Mounted on opposite walls are panels, each mentions the known "justification" for the victim's death. Why only the bottommost area of the panel is used is a mystery. I hope in time more names will be added to these panels. The final wall has an inscription draped by a waterfall states that the "victims of racial terror lynchings... whose deaths cannot be documented... whose names will never be known... are all honored here." Leaving memorial temple, I came to Monument Park. In this area, the tablets take on the shape and size of coffins, and lay on the ground rows after rows on the left and the right of the walkway. Like the tablets at the memorial temple, each bears the names of county and state, followed by the names of lynching victims and their respective dates of death. After Monument Park comes the "Guided By Justice" sculpture, and then Community Park. Tablets shaped like signposts line up in a single file to one side, and act as shoulders for the visitor walkway. Each has written details of specific lynchings. I followed these "signposts" and arrived at the "Arise" sculpture. The path then leads back to starting point. Visitors can either go for another round or leave. Our tour guide said that a visit at the NMPJ can be done in 45 minutes. I say, "Take all the time you want." The patrolling staff is sparse and there's no hurry. The $5 admission price covers all three EJI sites. Although I appreciated the NMPJ, particularly capturing a considerable amount of photos and footages, I do not give this place 5 stars because of the unnecessary security checkpoint to do the boat ride from Boat Launch at 101 Morris Street to Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, and vice versa. See attached image for further details. At 12:56pm, after visiting the National Memorial for Peace and Justice (NMPJ), I showed up at Boat Launch. There was a security checkpoint. I was told to turn over my tripod before getting on the boat. The big, burly bespectacled guy in the suit claimed that tripods could be used to vandalize the sculptures, and I could take the boat back and to this pier to get it back. He gave no explanation as to how a tripod would be a hazardous or dangerous object on a boat ride itself. The Sculpture Park has its own security checkpoint where I would turn over the tripod, and I wasn't planning on coming back to this pier just to pick up my tripod. It would be a waste of time. So I waited for the shuttle to take me back to the Legacy Museum after stopping over at NMPJ. When I finally arrived at Sculpture Park, 45 minutes of my time was wasted. This limited the time spent there. There was no necessity to have security checkpoint at Boat Launch when Sculpture Park has its own security checkpoint. Until EJI Legacy updates their policy to one that makes sense, this EJI site gets no more than three stars.

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!

Well done! This is an amazing museum with so much information to explore. We took the boat ride…read moredown the Alabama river to the Sculpture park. There are some many amazing pieces of art! So much history, it's beautiful and insightful.

Would give 5* except for the most recent exhibits to include that of George Floyd which was…read moreglaringly politically biased and very inaccurate with now-known facts. So many great things in museum that are dishonored by this. If this is new direction of leadership and curation, then it's a 1*, which averages to 3* based on rest of museum and experience which was 5*

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.

We visited Troy University's Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, AL on Jan 7, 2026 as part of Road…read moreScholar's "The Civil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham" program. As the name indicates, this museum is entirely about the titular civil rights icon. Tickets were covered by our program. We spent less than an hour here, in part because we got two other sites to visit in our day's itinerary. Our tour guide informed us that photography was not allowed inside the exhibition rooms. (Judging by the content on this business listing, that didn't stop other visitors from taking photos.) In the first room, we saw a short film that summarizes the segregation in Montgomery prior to Parks' historic act. After that, we went another room and were standing in front of a bus modeled after the one that Parks boarded and refused to give up her seat. The bus's windows serves as screens for another short film that re-enacted the historic moment. The dialogue is boosted by surround sound all over the room so that visitors could feel what it was like at that moment. After that, we went into the third and final room of exhibits showing what happened after Parks' arrest and its impact on the Civil Rights Movement. I recalled life-size figures, a model of a 1950s car and dimmed lighting. (Many thanks to Lulu Wang and her article "Rosa Parks Museum: Take You Back to 1955, Montgomery, AL" in medium.com for helping with my recollections.) The museum is clearly focused on Rosa Parks the civil rights icon, but not Rosa Parks the person, family member and human being. To my recollection, there was little mention about her life before and after the bus boycott (and the larger Civil Rights Movement). Nor was there a mention of the asteroid named after her: 284996 Rosaparks. I learnt about that from a "Doctor Who" episode (series 11, episode 3, titled "Rosa"). I don't recall if the exhibits mention of Parks' prior encounter with the bus driver James Blake 12 years earlier. After paying her fare at the front entrance, she tried to enter through the back entrance. But Blake drove off without her. Some accounts claimed that she refused to board. It'd be nice to know what's the museum's take on that incident. Of the three Montgomery mini-sites about the Civil Rights movement - the other two being the Civil Rights Memorial Center and the Freedom Rides Museum - the Rosa Parks museum is the smallest in space and content, and the only one that does not allow photography. I was the least happy with it. It's certainly worth the visit if done in conjunction with the Civil Rights Memorial Center and the Freedom Rides Museum, both of which are within walking distance. In addition to that, go see the Rosa Parks statue at the Rosa Parks Bus Stop on Court Square, which is also within walking distance.