What to do and see in Montgomery, Alabama (AL): The Best Sights & Landmarks

February 21, 2022 Viva Honore

Old southern charm meets modern city allure in Montgomery, where the weather is sublime and the food is divine! Explore life in the 19th-century South at Old Alabama Town, sample the city's artsy side at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts or spend the day reliving the era of Civil Rights. Rosa Parks, the African-American woman who changed history in the United States by refusing to ride in the back of the bus, was arrested in Montgomery, and there are a number of interesting attractions in her honor. Literary buffs will be wowed by the Fitzgerald Museum, while kids will want to spend hours at the Montgomery Zoo. Everyone will enjoy the delicious southern cuisine, from black-eyed pea soup to country ham and red-eyed gravy. Fancy or no-frills, a visit to Montgomery will leave you with a taste for more.
Restaurants in Montgomery

1. Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church

454 Dexter Ave Cost Of Admission, Montgomery, AL 36104-3743 +1 334-263-3970 http://www.dexterkingmemorial.org/
Excellent
81%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 471 reviews

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., used the pulpit of this unassuming red brick church to lead the 1955-56 Montgomery bus boycott, which ignited the civil rights movement. Steeped in history, this church, where Dr. King served as pastor from 1954 to 1960, was also the site of many civil rights meetings during that era.

Reviewed By IdaIllinois

In early March we visited this historical site in the shadow of the State Capitol in Montgomery where Martin Luther King, Jr. was pastor from 1954 to 1960 and organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott from his basement office. There is a tour of the church and parsonage on Tuesday through Saturday at specific times; the fee is very reasonable. Since we arrived halfway through a tour, we were privileged to be a part of two tours with a group of two college student classes. Our docent was Wanda Howard Battle who was a very personal guide to each person and had us all feeling like part of a larger and better group. She made the sanctuary, the basement, MLK’s lectern, and his office come alive with her words of history, culture, spiritualism, art, music, and humanism. It was a very uplifting hour tour, and one which you need to experience when you are in Montgomery.

2. Dexter Parsonage Museum - Dr. Martin Luther King home

315 S Jackson St, Montgomery, AL 36104-4407 +1 334-261-3270 http://www.dexterkingmemorial.org/tours/parsonage-museum/
Excellent
87%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
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5.0 based on 534 reviews

Dexter Parsonage Museum - Dr. Martin Luther King home

Martin Luther King's residence from September 1954 to February 1960.

Reviewed By Bearwife - Shoreline, United States

Arrive on the hour or arrange in advance for a group tour of this important civil rights site. This is where Dr. King lived from 1954 to 1956 as the pastor of the Dexter Street church, and was the President of the Montgomery Improvement Association, which led the bus boycott after Rosa Parks’ arrest. The parsonage was bombed and subjected to 40 plus telephone death threats during that time too. Down the street is the very important Harris house and behind the interpretive center is a thought provoking garden.

3. National Memorial for Peace and Justice

417 Caroline St, Montgomery, AL 36104-3901 +1 334-269-1803 http://museumandmemorial.eji.org
Excellent
95%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
1%
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5.0 based on 488 reviews

National Memorial for Peace and Justice

Reviewed By narbiter

This and the Legacy Museum are long overdue and have been desperately needed for decades.Travel to see it, bring your children, friends, family and co-workers. Talk about it when you go home. Tell the people who teach your children. Lobby to get our text books change. Vote against mass incarceration.... and remember this is where prejudice travels to ....As someone once said sooner or later we sit down to the banquet of consequences... We are in the middle of that banquet in the United States... time to wake up to it, and be active -- it is a memorial... and it is also a call to action-- to remember and stand on the shoulders of what we have learned..... and not repeat.... Thank you Equal Justice Initiative Team.

4. Alabama State Capitol

600 Dexter Ave, Montgomery, AL 36130-3008 +1 334-242-3935 http://www.preserveala.org/capitol.aspx
Excellent
47%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
2%
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4.5 based on 398 reviews

Alabama State Capitol

Built in 1851, the capitol building served as the first capitol for the Confederate States of America.

Reviewed By 199dannyc - Wetumpka, United States

The Alabama State Capital is a Beautiful building and well worth the time to tour it! Wen there a few weeks ago and it was awesome. The wood and marble have look as if they were brand new and of course they are over 150 years old. If you appreciate history and architecture, you will really enjoy your time there.

5. First White House of the Confederacy

644 Washington St, Montgomery, AL 36130-3012 +1 334-242-1861 [email protected] http://www.firstwhitehouse.org/
Excellent
55%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
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4.5 based on 567 reviews

First White House of the Confederacy

Built in 1835, this was the home of the Confederacy President, Jefferson Davis.

Reviewed By Abodenheimer

It is in remarkable condition, and is FREE to get in. The docents are incredibly helpful and nice. When my daughter told them that she is a history major, they even gave her a free book from the book store. The furnishings and other period pieces, such as clothing and jewelry, were beautiful and well preserved.

6. St. John's Episcopal Church

113 Madison Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104-3699 +1 334-262-1937
Excellent
38%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
13%
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4.5 based on 8 reviews

St. John's Episcopal Church

The church where Jefferson Davis worshipped during the Civil War.

7. Huntingdon College

1500 E Fairview Ave, Montgomery, AL 36106-2148 +1 800-763-0313
Excellent
73%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
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Terrible
7%
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4.5 based on 15 reviews

Huntingdon College

Fifty-eight-acre campus in Montgomery's scenic suburb plays host to a variety of community events, dance performances, concerts and college ceremonies.

8. River City Church

301 Dexter Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104-3740 +1 334-263-0549
Excellent
67%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
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4.5 based on 6 reviews

River City Church

9. Hank Williams Memorial - Oakwood Annex Cemetery

Upper Wetumpka Rd, Montgomery, AL +1 334-262-3600 [email protected] http://thehankwilliamsmuseum.net
Excellent
58%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
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4.5 based on 148 reviews

Hank Williams Memorial - Oakwood Annex Cemetery

Grave sites of Hank Williams, his wife, mother and sister in the Oakwood Cemetery Annex. Managed by the Hank Williams Museum. 118 Commerce Street, Montgomery, AL 36104. This is one of the most famous and most visited graves in Alabama.

Reviewed By R3683IUsandrah - Alabama, United States

I came in from Las Vegas to visit family in Montgomery. Being a fan, i enjoyed the visit to pay respect to an American country music icon. It touched my heart that this plot is for Audrey also. A family plot. This made it more special. I saw Audrey with Hank Jr in the late 60s. This was an experience I enjoyed and will never forget. Well worth the visit.

10. The F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum

919 Felder Ave, Montgomery, AL 36106-1926 +1 334-264-4222 [email protected] http://www.thefitzgeraldmuseum.org
Excellent
60%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 268 reviews

The F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum

This historic house honors novelist F. Scott, best known for "The Great Gatsby," and his wife, Zelda, artist and author. The museum operates out of the last surviving home they lived in during their lives together. The structure was saved from demolition in 1986. It is the location where Scott worked on "Tender is the Night", and Zelda on "Save Me the Waltz". You can now stay in the house in either Scott or Zelda Suite. Please see the museum website for Airbnb details and availability.

Reviewed By 171judim - Philadelphia, United States

If you are in Montgomery and want a break from all of the Civil Rights venues, this museum is a good break and place to take your mind off of the horrors of slavery. The small museum is located in a home whee the couple briefly lived. It is filled with artifacts from Zeda, Scott and others. Most interesting to me were the actual letter they wrote to each other. I ws also amazed by the quality of elda's paintings. The museum is a work in progress. It is obvious they need money to restore and update the building. But if you follow F. Scott and love his books, this is a place to visit. And even if you aren't a Fitrzgerald expert it is a great example of what life was like in the early 20th century. Put it on your to do list in Montgomery

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