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Montgomery, Alabama is famous for being the pioneering capital city of the Confederacy. It holds an important connection with the Cotton Belt and is very famous for being the host of the Civil Rights marches. The movement was actually influenced by Rosa Parks, a humble seamstress who was just very tired after a day’s work and refused to give up her bus seat in December 1955. Her defying action garnered the respect of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King proceeded to start the Montgomery Bus Boycott, also starting the national Civil Rights movement in the process.

Montgomery is found along the south bank of the Alabama River. It has become popular for being the venue of various battles during the Civil Rights war between states in the 1860s. It also joined, albeit involuntarily, in the Civil Rights movement a century later. There are still plenty of structures, monuments and fixtures that can be seen within an entire block that refer back to the Civil Rights movement.

Things to Discover in Montgomery:

The State Capitol is one of the must-visit places in the capital city. It is actually a Greek Revival Capitol established in 1850. It has garnered a reputation for two important events. The first was in February 1860 when Jefferson Davis was ordained as the new President of the newly organized Southern Confederacy. The second event was in March 1965 when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. concluded the Civil Rights march, moving from Selma to Montgomery. When you go past the portico of the Capitol, you will discover a great foyer with a couple of white spiral staircases moving up three stories.

The rotunda of the State Capitol also presents a stained glass skylight. There are eight giant murals made by Roderick MacKenzie, who is also from Alabama. The 1920s murals feature the background of the state, particularly the time when de Soto arrived in Alabama, the French settlers, antebellum activities and the Confederacy.

There are two special suites found on the first floor namely the “Governor’s Suit” and the “Secretary of State Suite”. These feature furniture and fixtures dating back 1870.

When you go around the Capitol grounds, you will find 50 flagpoles that form a semi-circular pathway. These are known as the “Walk of States”. Below each flag, there is a stone nameplate, with each stone coming from the state represented. There are even semi-precious stones from New Mexico and other locations.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History was established in 1901 and was the pioneering state archival agency in the country. There is also a museum, grand staircases and other exhibits that showcase Alabama’s history.  On the second floor, you will find a variety of unique pieces, such as antebellum quilts, jewelry owned and made by Mrs. Jefferson Davis and the Alabama State Bible. There is also a suite for Vice President William Rufus King on the second floor. He was the representative of North Carolina in the United States Congress. The Capitol is one of the best places to visit in Montgomery.

There was a story that Vice President William Rufus King resigned from his post in November 1816 so that he could take a new position in Russia. Once he came back, he got sick so he moved to Cuba to get better. In 1819, Rufus King transferred to Alabama. It was the same time that Alabama became a new state. King was then elected to be the representative of Alabama in the United States Senate. He was so successful that he was re-elected thrice more before becoming the Minister to France in 1844. Again, he was elected in 1848 for the US Senate by resigned in 1853. That was the time he became Vice President under Franklin Pierce. On March 4, 1853, King took his oath of office. However, he died on April 18 of the same year. In the State Capitol, there is actually a special room made for Rufus King, featuring some of his personal items, furniture and silver. There were also a number of documents and evidences of the things he finished during his terms of office.

The First White House of the Confederacy was a simple executive mansion given by a local merchant. It was set up quickly to become the temporary house of the new President Jefferson Davis. His family lived in the mansion for three months before the Confederate capital was transferred to Richmond. The White House of the Confederacy was just across the State Capitol, so tourists today can still visit the old house. You will find many items that used to belong to the Davis family. There are also plenty of pictures and documents that refer to the Civil War.