Montgomery Museums

(Montgomery, Alabama - AL, USA)

The more interesting and well-laid out museums of Montgomery tend to document the lives and achievements of some of the city's most famous residents, such as Hank Williams, the Fitzgeralds and Rosa Parks.

Hank Williams (1923 to 1953) began his career right here after moving to Montgomery in 1937 and his life is remembered in great detail at a dedicated museum, just a couple of blocks away from the City Hall. It was in this state capital where he used to host his very own radio show and formed his band, the Drifting Cowboys.

Located on the southern side of the Alabama State University campus is the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, which stands on the corner of Dunbar Street and Felder Avenue, and is dedicated to this renowned couple. Zelda Sayre (1900 to 1948) was born in Montgomery and married her husband, Francis Scott Fitzgerald (1896 to 1940), in 1920.

Enjoying a central situation on the corner of South Jackson Street and Key Street, the Dexter Parsonage Museum is of great historical significance in Montgomery, since it once served as the residence of no less than 12 pastors from the nearby Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, which was founded in 1877.

Hank Williams Museum

Address: 118 Commerce Street, Montgomery, Alabama (AL), 36104, USA
Tel: +1 334 262 3600
Following his young death in 1953, Hank Williams was honored by being inducted into the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame in the early 1960s. The museum itself is dedicated to this acclaimed country music artist and each year, thousands of fans come here to learn more about his life, listen to his music and enjoy the extensive collection of Williams memorabilia. Of note for die-hard fans, the final resting place of Hank Williams is just a five-minute drive up the road, in the nearby Oakwood Cemetery Annex.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 16:30, Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 13:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, children two years old and under are free

Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum

Address: 919 Felder Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama (AL), 36106, USA
Tel: +1 334 264 4222
Both Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald were notable published authors who became celebrities following the success of Scott's hugely popular debut novel entitled 'This Side of Paradise', which was later followed by 'The Great Gatsby'. The museum of their lives is actually housed within their former home, where they briefly lived in 1931 and 1932, with their young daughter. The house came close to being demolished in the mid-1980s, but was fortunately saved and later restored before opening as this not-for-profit attraction. Each year, the gala event is a significant gathering, with dining, live music and other entertainment.
Open hours: Wednesday to Friday - 10:00 to 14:00, Saturday and Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00
Admission: donation suggested, children five years old and under are free

Dexter Parsonage Museum

Address: 309 South Jackson Street, Montgomery, Alabama (AL), 36103, USA
Tel: +1 334 261 3270
Two particularly famous residents of the Dexter Parsonage were American civil rights leader Vernon Johns (pastor between the years 1947 and 1952) and none other than Martin Luther King Junior (pastor between the years 1954 and 1960). The building appeared on the list of the National Register of Historic Places in the early 1980s and was extensively restored and renovated in 2003. Those who would like a guided tour will need to book ahead by phone.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 10:00 to 16:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 14:00
Admission: charge

Rosa Parks Library and Museum

Address: 251 Montgomery Street, Montgomery, Alabama (AL), USA
Tel: +1 334 241 8615
The Rosa Parks Library and Museum is to be found on the campus of Troy University, where it opened in 2002 to celebrate the life and achievements of this remarkable woman. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was a leading African-American civil rights activist who is best remembered for her part in the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955 to 1956), after she was arrested when she refused to give up her seat for a white passenger whilst on her way home from work.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00, Saturday - 09:00 to 15:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students and children