MONTGOMERY The capital of Alabama, Montgomery plays an important role in history in the fight for voting rights, with the Alabama State Capitol Building having served as the ending point of the third march for voting rights from Selma. See the sights with a Local Guide this morning, including the State Capitol Building, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, the Civil Rights Memorial, and the Rosa Parks Museum. Take a docent-led tour of the courthouse where Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. first legalized the desegregation of buses in 1956 and ruled the march from Selma was a legal protest to be allowed in 1965 (based on availability). Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice:
DELVE: Moving Memorials
Go deeper into the history of the U.S. Civil Rights movement with a visit to two important sites. Visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the first memorial of its kind, which recognizes the thousands of enslaved black Americans who suffered lynching -many of which went unreported or unprosecuted. Gain a deeper historical perspective with a visit to the Legacy Museum, highlighting injustices from slavery to mass incarcerations, located near one of the most notorious slave-auction sites from 19th-century America. Be moved by the exhibits reflecting the effects of racial injustice.
CLAP: Hey, Good Lookin'
Home to country music legend, Hank Williams, Montgomery is also the home of his museum. Visit the Hank Williams Museum on a guided tour for a glimpse into this country-music legend's life and legacy. Hear how such Williams classics as "Your Cheatin' Heart," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," and "Hey, Good Lookin'" continue to influence musical artists today.
STROLL: Memory Lane
Walk through Old Alabama Town on a guided tour to see history preserved in more than 50 authentically restored and refurnished 19th- and 20th-century homes and structures spanning six blocks in downtown Montgomery. Stroll the nostalgic neighborhood and be transported in time, with interpreters available along your route to shed light on this special place. Take an inside tour of the block's 1850s centrepiece, the Ordeman-Mitchell-Shaw House, and follow your complimentary map and guide to see the 1895 Adams Chapel School; the 1892 Corner Grocery Store; and the stunning, circa 1850 Ware-Farley-Hood House.
Free time this evening. (B,L)