Spotlight on Montgomery County: Culture & Recreation

From whitewater rapids to Old Alabama Town, Montgomery County has a variety of attractions

Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

GET WET

Kayak the rapids, paddle your canoe or chill out on a raft at Montgomery Whitewater. Opened in 2023 and winning kudos near and far, the attraction keeps adding more — ziplines, ropes courses and a seasonal ice-skating rink are among the newest attractions.

CAPITOL ATTRACTIONS

The Alabama State Capitol is one of the few designated as a National Historic Landmark and offers self-guided tours. And the 1907 Governor’s Mansion – still the residence of governors – is open for tours by reservation.

CELEBRATE RIGHTS

The Civil Rights Memorial honors the achievements and memory of those who died during the modern civil rights movement, while the Civil Rights Memorial Center offers interactive exhibits and learning spaces. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is dedicated to victims of lynching and racial terror. The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration, built on the site where enslaved people were once warehoused, also offers a sobering look at racial inequality.

Newest is the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, which opened in 2024 and pays homage to the experience of enslaved people trafficked by riverboat and railroad to the city’s slave auctions. The 17-acre site is located on the banks of the Alabama River and features historical artifacts, like original dwellings once inhabited by enslaved people, as well as modern sculpture and artworks.

For a more active look, retrace elements of the Selma-to-Montgomery march, from downtown Selma to the capitol, including the final camping site at The City of St. Jude. In Montgomery, also visit Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church & The Dexter Parsonage Museum, with memorabilia from the days when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was pastor. In the old Greyhound Bus Station, visit the Freedom Rides Museum. On the campus of Alabama State University, visit the Montgomery Interpretive Center, with exhibits on the voting rights movement and march. And visit the Rosa Parks Library & Museum, which includes a replica of the bus at the start of the bus boycott of 1955.

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HAIL TO HISTORY

The Museum of Alabama, located in the Alabama Department of Archives & History, is the oldest state-funded archives in the nation. It features a genealogical research facility and exhibits on Alabama history. Or walk the streets of Old Alabama Town — six blocks of history with a one-room schoolhouse, grist mill, doctor’s office, tavern and more — all brought to life by costumed interpreters. You can see another side of Alabama history at the First White House of the Confederacy, home to Jefferson Davis when Montgomery was the capital of the Confederacy.

COUNTRY ROADS

Alabama’s Black Belt, 23 counties including Montgomery, is widely known for its excellent hunting and fishing opportunities, cultural destinations and antebellum homes.

UNEXPECTED TREASURES

Alabama Cattlemen’s Association “MOOseum” shows off the region’s agriculture, with activities for children. The Alabama Safari Park offers unforgettable memories as you feed giraffes, gaze at gazelles or admire the stripes of a zebra.

TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY

Alabama Shakespeare Festival is ranked as one of the largest Shakespeare theaters in the world, drawing more than 300,000 people annually. The theater celebrates 40 years this year.

ADVENTURES IN ART

Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts has a collection of 19th and 20th century American paintings, old masters, Southern regional arts and more, including an interactive gallery for children called Artworks. Surrounding the museum is the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden.

PLAY BALL

The Montgomery Biscuits, an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, play at Riverwalk Stadium downtown.

ANIMAL ANTICS

The Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum introduce hundreds of animals in natural habitats, with paddleboats and a train besides.

TAKE A TOUR

Start at the Montgomery Area Visitor Center, where staff can help you build a custom itinerary and you can pick up local souvenirs.

LOCAL LEGENDS

Visit the home of literary legends Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald or visit the tribute to musical legend Hank Williams at the old city auditorium and his gravesite at Oakwood Cemetery. Wright Brothers Park honors Montgomery’s role in aviation history as the home of the first night flight and first commercial aviation school, plus a scale model of a Wright Brothers airplane.

RIVER VIEW

Come down to the river and relive history while enjoying a river cruise on the Harriott II, a 19th century riverboat that offers dinner, dancing and live entertainment.

Festivities & Events:

Martin Luther King Jr. CelebrationJanuary

Honda Battle of the BandsFebruary

Selma to Montgomery Relay and Bike Ride March

SLE RodeoMarch

Red Bluff Music, Arts & Food FestivalMay

Riverbend BrewfestMay

JuneteenthJune

Montgomery Kickoff ClassicAugust

Alabama National FairFall

Riverwalk Wine FestivalOctober

Glassner Autumn Challenge Bike RideOctober

Camellia BowlDecember

This article appears in the January 2025 issue of Business Alabama.

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