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.

This is a polished steel sculpture located in the center of a roundabout in Montgomery, near the…read moreNational Memorial for Peace and Justice. It is a collaborative piece by Jon Cook, Barrett Bailey, Robert Minervini, and Chuck Parkinson and was dedicated in March 2015. The sculpture is meant to honor the people that took the long march from Selma to Montgomery in protest of unfair voting rights, who passed that same corner on their way to the Capitol. The sculpture is well maintained and very reflective. I am surprised that the sun beaming off of it does not blind drivers navigating the roundabout. This sculpture is part of the Selma to Montgomery Trail and has a City of Montgomery Interpretive Sign at the location. The sign is #8, titled Five Points and has a picture of MLK and his wife Coretta leading a march. The sculpture kind of resembles the image in the photo and depicts a silhouette of people marching which little children on both ends and flags flying in the background. There are no identifiable people in the sculpture. They are all abstract, which means that you can put who you want in the sculpture and that it can apply even to today with the people marching for police reform and justice. It is a simple, but yet powerful piece and I really like it. When I saw it, I just had to stop and find out more about it. Luckily the roundabout that it is located on is not very busy, so, I was able to park on the street nearby to get out and get a closer look. Once you are at the center of the roundabout, there is a stone walkway that you can stand safely on and admire the sculpture up close. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, such as the near-by National Memorial for Peace and Justice or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

We visited the Civil Rights Memorial Center 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, it's a memorial and not a true museum. Tickets were covered by our program. We spent less than an hour here, in part because we got two other similarly small museums to visit in our day's itinerary. At the entrance of the Center is a security screening. We were directed to line up in rows. The security guard was friendly. He nicknamed me "Big T" since my name started with "T". I replied, "I wish I was big." To which he went, "Me too," and we both laughed. Row by row, we went up to the counter to surrender our personal items prior to the screening. The guard allowed me to keep my belt on even though the buckle is metal. Then each of us went through the screening. No issues encountered. We were then joined by a museum guide. The first section is the Martyr Room, dedicated to the 40 that were killed during the Civil Rights Movement. Collage of photos and individual profiles positioned at eye level filled every wall. There is a console in the middle of the room for visitors to learn more. A short while later, we were led to the Orientation Theater where we watched a short film called "Apathy is not an Option". It started with a highlight reel of the Movement and connects it to contemporary events of social justice. After that, we continued on to "The March Continues", a hallway of murals depicting contemporary social justice. The end of the hallway leads the "Wall of Justice" room. On one wall is a large, wide screen with names of people involved in civil rights through the ages, set to a photo of - presumably - the Selma March. By the opposite wall are inscribed quotations from historical figures, including one from Robert Kennedy (Sr.) during a trip in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966. The best was saved for last. We arrived at the Memorial table to see water literally flowing down onto its surface where the names of the 40 are etched. The artwork is indeed magnificent. Footage is in the video "Day 4 & Day 5: Civil Rights Memorial Center, Legacy Plaza, Legacy Museum" on my YouTube channel, in playlist "2026-1: The Civil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham". If it was up to me, I'd spend a few minutes more in the Martyr Room. It has the most content of all the sections. Overall, the Civil Rights Memorial Center is a good, albeit modest-sized center. It is worth the visit if done in conjunction with the Rosa Parks Museum and the Freedom Rides Museum, both of which are within walking distance.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This is a unique sculpture that you can only see if you are standing directly in front of it. It is…read moremade up of more than 300 pieces of cut steel. At first all you will see is the black steel spires in a "V" shape and wonder, what is this all about. But it will eventually makes sense though.Trust me. If you are having difficulty seeing it, try looking at through your phones camera. Sometimes that helps. The sculpture sits out front of the Rosa Parks Museum and Library Across from Troy College. Its location used to be a fountain. There is metered street parking in front of the sculpture and within a reasonable walking distance that makes it easy to park, get out and take a closer look. The sculpture is identical to one located at Maxwell Air Force Base at the site where she worked in the 1940's. They are referred to as sister pieces, with the only difference being their backgrounds. It is the work of Ian Mangum, a US Air Force employee, and was dedicated in December 2021. The project was funded by the Alabama Power Foundation, Troy University and Air University Foundation The art work itself is very nice, but I love how it appears to just be some poles coming from out of the ground until you line up just right with it and the portrait reveals itself. It depicts a headshot of Ms. Park with her signature glasses on. It is a creative and wonderful piece. I would say it was one of a kind, if there were not two of them. I loved this piece and its home is very appropriate and it provides a great welcome to the museum. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area. You more than likely will be visiting the Rosa Parks Museum when you come across this sculpture anyway. Either way you should make this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

We visited the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park (FMSP) on Jan 8, 2026 as part of Road Scholar's "The…read moreCivil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham" program. It is one of the three Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) Legacy sites in Montgomery, AL, and one of two where photography is not allowed. Like with the other two sites, security checkpoint is present and I surrendered my foldable (smartphone) tripod. As the name indicates, the FMSP has a collection of sculptures, as well as monuments and restored (to original condition) habitats. Greeting visitors at the entrance is "Brick House" (by Simone Leigh). You can take pictures of everything within the entrance so long as you remain outside; once you step in, photography is no longer permitted. The staff will tell you so. In fact, the staff had told me so at least twice when I tried to sneak a photo shot while inside. That didn't stop other visitors from taking photos of various artwork and posting them here. My walk through the park was (sadly) devoid of visual records until I arrived at the National Monument to Freedom. If you are an art connoisseur, you'll enjoy the FMSP the most (out of the three EJI sites). The artwork is sheer beauty, albeit painfully crafted (no pun intended). Each is unique. Yet together, they collectively express the same message. The quality of the artwork alone makes everyone of them deserving of all the recognition (by cameras). The National Monument to Freedom is located near the end of the part trail. The staff informed me that photography from here onwards is permitted. In this respect, the FMSP is slightly better than the Legacy Museum. After the park, I headed to the visitor center. No prohibition of photography whatsoever. In front of the entrance is a statue of Harriet Tubman standing on a raised rock, holding a star with her right hand reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty, and looking down at a young girl kneeling by the rock and looking up at her. Inside the visitor center, there are consoles for visitors to know more about the subject matter, paintings on the walls, and a theater screening a documentary. I did not find out the title but it showed two individuals recounting anecdotes about slavery. It took me about 40 minutes to get through FMSP. An art connoisseur would spend considerably more time. I would appreciate it more if photography was permitted because all the artworks deserves maximum recognition. Like the other EJU sites, 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 FMSP, and vice versa. See attached image for further details.

I had visited the museum and memorial when they first opened and was blown away then. Now, the team…read morehas really built up a learning and honoring enterprise that everyone should visit. The sculpture garden and the boat ride to it are beautifully organized and provide space for reflection and learning at your own pace. Relying on the shuttles is your best bet to not have to back track. Make sure you know the shuttle schedule and routes ahead of time, though, so you don't get too delayed.

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"