Alabama’s capital, Montgomery, has seen its fair share of turmoil.
It was here that Jefferson Davis took the oath to become the “President”
of the “Confederate States of America”. A century later
it was here that Rosa Parks made a stand against racial discrimination.
Today Montgomery is quite a lot quieter, and is working hard to shed
its reputation for social backwardness through a respectful acknowledgement
of its struggle and a variety of 1st class cultural amenities.
The 1st White House of the Confederacy has been historically preserved
along with various artifacts from the Davis family, and is open for
guided tours. The Rosa Parks Library & Museum chronicles the Montgomery
Bus Boycott of 1955, which some regard as the most important American
civil rights protest since the civil war. The Civil Rights Memorial
in front of the Southern Poverty Law Center honors 40 martyrs of the
cause.
Montgomery is rightfully proud of some of its late celebrity residents.
The Hank Williams Museum features music, video, and exhibits on this
country music legend. The F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum is
the former home of the great American novelist, the couple met in
Montgomery when F. Scott was stationed here in WW I.
Sports enthusiasts have some interesting options in Montgomery Alabama.
Golfers have a number of courses to choose from. The challenging,
water-hazard dotted course at Lagoon Park is a favorite, as are the
3 Robert Trent Jones Golf Trails. Montgomery Motor Sports Park is
a NHRA approved speedway that offers year-round drag racing and “Street
Wars” on Friday nights that allow anyone to be a racecar driver.
Montgomery Skate Park is the city’s only skateboarding park,
and features a 5’ mini ramp, excellent street course and weekly
BMX sessions.
The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is held
in Montgomery at Blount Cultural Park; this highly acclaimed festival
is one of the worlds largest and is the only American theater invited
to fly the Royal Shakespeare Company Flag. Montgomery AL is home to the Montgomery
Biscuits Minor League Baseball Team.
