Stand at Court Square in downtown Montgomery and the entire history of the Southeast surrounds you.
An 1885 fountain allows an artesian spring to bubble up in the center of the traffic circle at Court Square.
The spring was probably used by the Creek Indians who lived here before the 1814 treaty that gave their lands to Alabama.
A historical marker on Court Square recalls the slave market that once stood here.
The telegraph that started the Civil War — authorizing Charleston, S.C., to remove Union forces from Fort Sumter — was sent from a building on Court Square. In 1866, the Emancipation Proclamation was celebrated here.
The bus stop where Rosa Parks boarded that fateful day in 1955 is now in a small park on Court Square.
And a few blocks up Goat Hill is the state Capitol, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and hundreds of people completed their civil rights march from Selma.
Montgomery doesn’t try to hide its past. Memorials, tourist sites and a narrated trolley ride tell the stories.
Don’t miss
● The Montgomery Area Visitor's Center in the renovated Union Station is the place to catch a ride on the Lightning Route Trolley. For $1, visitors can jump off and on all day. Or, with a refundable deposit, borrow an MP3 player from the visitor's center for a self-guided tour. 300 Water St., Montgomery, Ala. 36104. (334) 261-1100. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday. www.visitingmontgomery.com
● Riverboat Harriott II brings back the best of the 19th century — beautiful riverboats cruising the Alabama River. Then the boats carried cotton and passengers. Today the Harriott II takes visitors for themed cruises on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Harriott II docks behind the Riverwalk Amphitheater, near Union Station. (334) 241-2100. www.funontheriver.net. Prices start at $15 for adults, $10 for children 3-12, $1 for children under 2.
● The Hank Williams Museum highlights the life of country music's most famous Montgomery resident. Williams moved here as a teen and made his debut at the nearby Davis Theater. The museum features the restored 1952 baby blue Cadillac in which Williams died. 118 Commerce St., Montgomery, Ala. 36104. (334) 262-3600. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission: ages 12 and up, $8; ages 3-11, $3. www.thehankwilliamsmuseum.com
● The Rosa Parks Library & Museum and Children's Wing brings 1955 Montgomery to life with a re-created street scene and a replica of the bus where Parks refused to give up her seat to a white patron. 252 Montgomery St., Montgomery, Ala. 36104. (334) 241-8615. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Admission to both museum and children's wing: children under 12, $6; ages 12 and up, $10. Montgomery.troy.edu/rosaparks/museum
● Civil Rights Memorial and Museum. Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Memorial on the Washington Mall, created a water-themed memorial to the achievements and losses of the civil rights era. The museum, part of the Southern Poverty Law Center, has interactive exhibits and a 17-minute film about those who died in the quest for freedom. 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, Ala. 36104. (334) 956-8200. Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Admission: adults $2, free for ages 17 and under. www.splcenter.org/crm/memorial.jsp
If You Go
Getting there:
Montgomery is about 190 miles from Atlanta, a three-hour drive along I-85 South. Take Exit 1, Union Street, and follow signs to the Visitor’s Information Center.
Where to stay
● Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center: A block from Union Station, within walking distance of all the downtown sights. $129-$189. 201 Tallapoosa St., Montgomery, Ala. 36104. (334) 481-5000. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mgmbr-renaissance-montgomery-hotel-and-spa-at-the-convention-center/
● The Red Bluff Cottage: A replica of a 19th-century Victorian raised cottage, the Red Bluff Cottage has five rooms, each with a private bath. $110-$215 for singles or double occupancy. $30 per extra person. 551 Clay St., Montgomery, Ala. 36104. (334) 264-0056. www.RedBluffCottage.com
Where to eat
● Dreamland BBQ: Ribs, pulled pork and chicken slow-smoked, served in a sports-bar atmosphere. Don't miss the homemade banana pudding for dessert ($1.95). Sandwiches, salads, Brunswick stew and BBQ plates, $1.95-$12.95. 101 Tallapoosa St., Montgomery, Ala. 36104. (334) 273-RIBS (7427). www.dreamlandbbq.com
● Lek's Railroad Thai: Curries, sushi, noodle dishes and some American standards served in a cozy room in renovated Union Station. Lunch, $7.50-$8.95. Dinner, $7.95-$15.95. Sweet creamy Thai iced tea ($2.95) and mango ice cream ($4.50) cool even the hottest afternoons. 300 B Water St., at Union Station, Montgomery, Ala. 36104. (334) 269-0708. www.thaiemeraldlek.com/Train/index.htm
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