About Montgomery
Prior to its birth as a state in 1819, Alabama was the domain of a loose confederacy of Muscogee Indian tribes collectively referred to as the "Creeks." In 1817, an attorney and promoter from Boston named Andrew Dexter founded "New Philadelphia" atop the high bluffs along the banks of the Alabama River. A year later, General John Scott, a direct ancestor of three Capell & Howard attorneys and a native of Virginia, bought the property just west of Dexter's land and settled "East Alabama." After a year of rivalry between the two towns during which time New Philadelphia acquired the nickname "Yankee Town," the two settlements merged to form one city, named "Montgomery" (after General Richard Montgomery, a native New Yorker who gave his life at the Battle of Quebec during the American Revolution). Today, Montgomery serves as the capital city of Alabama, a title that it has held since 1846, and is a vibrant city with a population of over 200,000 people within the city limits, and over 345,000 in the greater metropolitan area.
In addition to the continually evolving nature of its economy, Montgomery is steeped in history and culture. At times, the city can seem like one giant celebration of history. There are numerous museums dedicated to individuals who have left their mark on the city, including the Rosa Parks Museum, the Hank Williams Museum and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Museum, just to name a few. For a more general history of the area, there is Old Alabama Town and the Alabama History Archives, as well as sites dedicated to Alabama's war veterans and Civil Rights struggle. Complementing its rich tradition and history, Montgomery has a full array of cultural attractions, including the Blount Cultural Park, home to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the nation's fifth-largest Shakespearean theatre, and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art. Montgomery also boasts numerous art galleries and several theatre venues, as well as ballet and the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.
Building upon its rich history and cultural maturity, Montgomery continues to grow and develop. In addition to being the home to many state agencies and various private and public businesses, Alabama recently attracted Hyundai Motors to the area. Hyundai will produce an estimated 300,000 cars and engines annually beginning in 2005 at its production facility located just outside the city. In addition to economic growth, the city is currently in the midst of a downtown revitalization effort directed at reclaiming its roots as "The River City." As an anchor to that development, the city has invested in the new Riverwalk Stadium, the home of the city's new AA baseball team, the Montgomery Biscuits.
State Capitol Building
One of the only state capitols designated a National Historic Landmark, the Alabama State Capitol is where Jefferson Davis took the oath of office as President of the Confederate States of America and where the civil rights March ended with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering a moving speech from the top of its steps. The historic Senate and House of Representatives Chambers, the old Supreme Court Chambers and the original governor's office have all been restored to their Civil War-era appearance.
Montgomery Union Station and Trainshed
Constructed in 1898, Union Station is an excellent example of late 19th-century commercial architecture, and served as the focal point of transportation into the city until the advent of commercial air travel. Montgomery Union Station is most significant for its trainshed, which illustrates the adaptation of bridge-building techniques to shelter structures, an important step in the history of American engineering.
Rosa Parks Library and Museum
Visitors to this fascinating interactive museum are able to put themselves in the place of the courageous seamstress, Rosa Parks, who sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Tired from a long day at work, she refused to yield her seat to a white passenger. The museum features a recreated street scene and replica of the bus, while video footage transports witnesses to the fateful day. Additional exhibits lead visitors on an emotional journey through the days of the Bus Boycott, which became the first step on the often difficult path to civil rights in America.
First White House of the Confederacy
The First White House of the Confederacy was built between 1832-1835. Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of America, was inaugurated on February 18, 1861, across the street at the state capitol. He and his family lived in the home during the first year of the Civil War until May of 1861 (at which time the capital was moved to Richmond, Virginia).
The First White House of the Confederacy was originally located at the corner of Bibb and Lee Streets, and became run down and dilapidated through the years. With the help of various benefactors, the home was moved to its present location and dedicated on June 3, 1921. Mrs. Jefferson Davis gave many relics to the organization to place inside the home.
Old Alabama Town
Old Alabama Town is a four block collection of authentically restored 19th and 20th century structures, from schoolhouses to cotton gins. A magnificent setting, it stretches along six blocks in the heart of historic downtown Montgomery, Alabama. Visitors can step back in time and experience over 100 years of history and see meticulously restored and furnished buildings reflecting the lives of the people who settled and developed Central Alabama. Each building creates its own distinctive image of living and working in Alabama's past.
Cloverdale Historic Garden District
Cloverdale began in 1887 when J.C. O'Connell, a wealthy engineer and cotton merchant, purchased an area south of the city of Montgomery known as "Graham's Woods." In the years ensuing and after many setbacks, the development finally picked up steam, so that by 1916 there were over 125 houses built in the area. Electric trolley cars (which had their origin in Montgomery dating back to 1886) began serving the area in 1892, and effectively connected the new suburb to downtown Montgomery. Nonetheless, the Church of the Ascension was founded in the Cloverdale area for the parishioners of St. John's who could not make it to downtown when Genetta Ditch overflowed.
Cloverdale is considered the first landscaped, designed suburb in Alabama. Although there is much speculation about the origins of the original design, Cloverdale's natural garden landscape design is based on the design techniques of one of the designers of New York's Central Park, Frederick Law Olmstead, Sr. Although Olmstead submitted design proposals for Huntingdon College and the grounds of the Montgomery Country Club (also located in the Cloverdale area), there is no documentation evidencing Olmstead's direct participation in the Cloverdale design.
Hank Williams Museum and Memorial
The Hank Williams Museum is located in Downtown Montgomery where Hank Williams, the legendary singer and songwriter, lived from 1937-1953. The Museum houses Hank's 1952 Cadillac in which he made his final journey. Oakwood Cemetery, which is the resting place of Hank and Audrey Williams, is located only five minutes away from the Museum.
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church
This small, eclectic-style church built in 1878 served as the original headquarters of the Montgomery Improvement Association, headed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which carried out a successful boycott of segregated city buses in 1955. It was in this National Historic Landmark that where Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. first preached his message of hope and brotherhood from a modest pulpit. The church was also a center point of the Montgomery bus boycott. A large mural in the church depicts King's civil rights crusade from Montgomery to Memphis.
St. John's Episcopal Church
The oldest Episcopal parish in Montgomery, St. John's was organized in 1834 by a small group of pioneer settlers. In 1855, the church building, a Montgomery landmark, was designed by the nation's foremost church architects, Wills & Dudley of New York, while Tiffany's of New York designed its stained glass windows. The mid-19th century structure comprises the narthex and nave of the present church, which was built at the corner of Perry Street and Madison Avenue. During the Civil War, Jefferson Davis worshiped here and his pew is still marked.
Blount Cultural Park
This lush park landscape is home to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival theatre complex, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Shakespeare Gardens, lakes, fountains, a museum café, and beautiful outdoor areas for recreation. The original master plan for the park was developed in 1983 by Tom Blount, son of park benefactor Wynton M. Blount, using concepts developed by the late Russell Page of London. The Shakespeare Garden and Amphitheatre was designed in 1998 by the landscape design firm of Edwina vonGal & Company of New York, which also completed in 2000 the revised master plan for the expanded 300 acre park and the private Wynfield gardens.
Riverwalk Stadium and Montgomery Biscuits Baseball
In 2003, the city's AA baseball team, the Montgomery Biscuits (an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays), occupied the state-of-the-art, 7,000 seat capacity stadium. The stadium, located on the corner of Coosa and Tallapoosa Streets is the cornerstone of the city's revitalization of the downtown area. In addition to baseball games, the stadium hosts various concerts and other events. The firm leases a suite (skybox) in the stadium.
Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum
The Montgomery Zoo is the home of over 700 animals from 5 different continents, all housed in natural, "barrier free" habitats. The Zoo spans over 40 beautifully landscaped acres, offering a magnificent view of exotic wildlife and endangered species. In addition to the Zoo, the Mann Wildlife Museum features life-like exhibits of naturally preserved animals and their habitats.
Jubilee Cityfest
Taking place each year during late spring, Jubilee CityFest appeals to a diverse crowd by offering the best entertainment available. Jubilee offers several genre of music, including pop, country, alternative, zydeco, blues, jazz, folk, gospel, oldies and classic rock. Other Jubilee CityFest attractions include KidsFest, ArtFest, Symphony Pops Concert, Jubilee Run, "Thunder Over The River" fireworks, and the Sunrise Celebration Service.
Civil Rights Memorial
The Civil Rights Memorial was designed by noted architect and artist Maya Lin, who participated in its dedication ceremony on November 5, 1989. The Memorial includes a simple timeline carved on a circular granite table, and chronicles the history of the Civil Rights Movement. On the table are recorded the names of forty people who sacrificed their lives during the modern civil rights movement. The wall behind the table is inscribed with excerpts from the Book of Amos quoted in the historical speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visitors are encouraged to touch the table and the wall.
Alabama Department of Archives and History
The Alabama Department of Archives and History is the oldest state-funded archives in the nation, and is housed in a beautiful marble building completed in 1940. Features include museum galleries and genealogical research facilities, as well as exhibits on early Alabama Indians, military and 19th century galleries and a hands-on gallery with "Grandma's Attic."
Alabama Judicial Building
The Alabama Judicial Building is the home of the Supreme Court of Alabama, the Courts of Criminal and Civil Appeals, the State Law Library, and the Administrative Office of Courts. The design of the building is that of neo-classical, featuring a dome and a pediment with columns. The exterior is faced with natural Indiana limestone, with monumental steps like the ones gracing the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. The building's Indiana limestone is the same limestone that was used in the Empire State Building, the National Cathedral, and the Pentagon. The interior public spaces are finished in Carrara marbles from Italy. The building design consists of approximately 338,000 gross square feet on seven levels.
Riverfront Amphitheatre
Another addition to the Montgomery riverfront development is the Riverfront Amphitheatre, a sprawling grassy area on the banks of the Alabama River facing a majestic stage. The Amphitheatre is perfect for picnics, concerts, movies, plays, productions and more. Fountains of water stream toward the sky for children to play in and the surround sound system provides crystal clear quality for each event. The Riverfront Amphitheatre provides a stunning view of the river and a serene atmosphere for all who visit.
Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts
The Davis Theatre, located near the Federal Courthouse, opened its doors on January 25, 1930, and was named The Paramount Theatre. The Theatre was completely restored in 1983 after being purchased by Troy State University, and today it hosts amateur and professional musicals, dramatic productions, chamber music groups, symphony orchestras, dance groups, ballets and instrumental performances of all types.
Lake Martin
Located within a short driving distance from Montgomery, Lake Martin is a 44,000 acre natural lake created in the mid 1920's by the construction of the Martin Dam at Cherokee Bluffs by the Alabama Power Company. The lake is home to many vacation homes, and is a popular spot for water sports, fishing, and relaxation.
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, who met at a dance at the Montgomery Country Club, rented the house at 919 Felder Avenue from October 1931 until April 1932. Scott worked on his novel Tender Is the Night, and Zelda began her only published novel, Save Me the Waltz, while living in the house. Built in 1909, the house is located in the historic Old Cloverdale District, and is now home to the only museum in the world dedicated to the memory of the Fitzgeralds.
The Capri Theatre
The Capri Theatre was built in 1941 as The Clover and was Montgomery's first neighborhood theatre. It was remodeled and renamed The Capri in 1963. Today it shows independent films and award-winning classics.
