This Alabama capital played a pivotal role in Civil Rights history, with landmarks like Rosa Parks Museum and the church where MLK preached, plus cultural spots and local museums.
Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, sits along the Alabama River. You can catch a Montgomery Biscuits baseball game at Riverwalk Stadium, watch performances at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's two stages, or explore American art collections at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Take a riverboat cruise on the Harriott II, or spend an afternoon at the Montgomery Zoo's 40-acre wildlife complex.
Parks and Recreation Areas
You'll find 1,600 acres of public parks across Montgomery. Play a round at Lagoon Park's 18-hole golf course, practice at its tennis center, or walk its network of trails. Gateway Park has another golf course and baseball diamonds. At Riverfront Park, board the Harriott II riverboat for dinner cruises and sightseeing tours along the Alabama River. The Montgomery Zoo's 40 acres include animals from Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.
Arts and Culture Scene
Watch classical and modern theater productions year-round at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Blount Cultural Park. The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts contains American art, Southern art, and European master prints, plus temporary exhibitions by contemporary artists. Visit the former home of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald to see their original manuscripts, letters, and personal belongings from their time in Montgomery during the 1920s.
Civil Rights History and Landmarks
Read the names of civil rights movement activists at the Civil Rights Memorial in downtown Montgomery. Learn about Rosa Parks at the museum built where she refused to give up her bus seat in 1955, leading to the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott. Walk through the Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy Museum and National Memorial to learn about racial injustice from slavery through mass incarceration. You can walk between these downtown sites in about three hours.
Getting Around Montgomery
Fly into Montgomery Regional Airport, which connects to Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Charlotte. Drive to Atlanta via Interstate 85, or take Interstate 65 north to Birmingham or south to Mobile. Most museums and historical sites in the downtown area are within a 20-minute walk of each other.
Weather and Seasonal Activities
Summer brings temperatures above 90°F (32°C) with high humidity from June through September. Winter temperatures rarely drop below 40°F (4°C). Watch the Montgomery Biscuits play baseball at Riverwalk Stadium between April and September. Fall temperatures average 75°F (24°C), making it comfortable for walking tours and outdoor performances at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's amphitheater.
