Sights and Scenes: Downtown Montgomery

The capital of Alabama, Montgomery is home to a downtown district that has been revitalized around its Civil Rights history.

Escapology Montgomery is an escape room at 130 Commerce Street #700.

The intersection of Montgomery Street, Market Plaza and Commerce Street

Looking north down Commerce Street - PNC Bank PNC Bank Vaughn Plaza

The intersection of Commerce Street and Bibb Street

8 Commerce Street Tower is a 12-story building originally completed in 1906 for the First National Bank. Since 2011, the building has served as the Montgomery division headquarters for Renasant Bank.

The Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse was completed in 1933.

The Rosa Parks Museum is located at the site where Mrs. Parks was arrested in 1955 at 252 Montgomery Street. The museum is an active memorial to the life of civil rights icon Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The former Jefferson Davis Hotel at 344 Montgomery Street, was originally built in 1927. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Now the King Williams Apartments, the property has since been renovated into a $12.5 million, 98-unit senior housing development.

The Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts at 251 Montgomery Street. The theatre was originally built in 1925 as a 1,525-seat Paramount Theatre.

Located on Capitol Hill (originally called Goat Hill), the current Alabama State Capitol was originally completed in 1851.

Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) at 201 South Union Street. RSA is the administrator of the pension fund for employees of the state of Alabama. Since the beginning of the 21st century, RSA has been ranked among the 20 largest internally funded pension funds in the world.

The Alabama Department of Archives & History at 624 Washington Avenue, is the official repository of archival records for the state of Alabama.

The Southern Poverty Law Center at 403 Washington Avenue is a catalyst for racial justice, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church is a National Historic Landmark site because of its importance in the civil rights movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served as the church’s pastor during the time that he organzied the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955.

The $185 million, 12-story RSA Judicial Building was completed in 2011.

The Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building at 300 Dexter Avenue.

The 00 block of Dexter Avenue.

Lower Dexter Park is located in a spot on Dexter Avenue where Rosa Parks was employed during the events that led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com