Known for its Southern hospitality, revitalized downtown and rich history as the birthplace of the civil rights movement, the riverfront capital city of Montgomery is celebrating both Alabama’s and its own 200th anniversary this December, with a variety of special events taking place throughout the city. From the opening of a 50-year-old time capsule and the revealing of a monumental Rosa Parks Statue, to an elaborate culmination of the state’s three-year celebration – ALABAMA 200, Montgomery looks forward to welcoming visitors and locals alike to celebrate a city that has shaped American history since its founding.
Please see below for more information on Alabama and Montgomery’s Bicentennial Celebration.
1619-2019 “Hope, History and the Struggle for African-American Freedom” Art Exhibition: Now through Dec.
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The National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African American Culture at Alabama State University in Montgomery will be hosting a special art exhibition referencing the African American experience in Montgomery and Alabama since 1819. A small exhibition observing the 100th birthday of Nat King Cole will also be on display. For more information, visit www.bit.ly/2MBHRua.
We the People: Alabama’s Defining Documents: Now through Dec. 31
In celebration of Alabama’s Bicentennial, the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery will present a special exhibition of the documents that have defined the state’s government over the last 200 years. After a year-long conservation effort, Alabama’s six constitutions and the 1861 ordinance of secession, which declared Alabama’s separation from the Union on the eve of the Civil War, will be on view to the public. For more information, visit www.bit.ly/2QFkj5U.
Rosa Parks Statue Reveal and Dedication: Dec. 1
After being arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in December 1955, Rosa Parks became an international symbol for civil rights. Ultimately her actions not only led to the Montgomery bus boycott, but they also marked a significant turning point in the civil rights movement. On December 1, Rosa Parks Day, the City of Montgomery, Montgomery County Commission, State of Alabama Department of Tourism and Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts will reveal and dedicate a brand-new Rosa Parks Statue in Montgomery Plaza, just steps away from where she first ignited a powerful movement against injustice. For more information, visit www.rosaparksdayinalabama.com.
Montgomery’s Bicentennial Celebration: Dec. 3
To celebrate Montgomery’s 200th birthday, the Alabama Department of Archives and History and the City of Montgomery will open a time capsule at Montgomery City Hall, sealed 50 years ago. The capsule contains magazines, newspapers, brochures and other materials from across the city. It even includes letters written by Montgomery residents to their descendants and letters from Alabama Gov. Albert Brewer, Montgomery Mayor Earl James and other city officials. For more information, visit www.bit.ly/33o0bKd.
ALABAMA 200 Birthday Celebration: Dec. 14
Alabama's three-year bicentennial celebration will conclude in Montgomery with the Alabama Bicentennial Parade, the Alabama Bicentennial Park Dedication and a Bicentennial Festival. The festival will feature exhibitions, performances, free tours of the Alabama State Capitol, recordings from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on display at The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and more. A light show displaying the history of Alabama in a never-before-seen way along with a concert hosted by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks and Hank Williams’ daughter Jet Williams will conclude the evening. Featuring popular Alabama musicians, the concert will include performances by Allison Moorer, John Paul White, The Muscle Shoals All-Stars, Clarence Carter, Jimmy Hall, Eddie Floyd, Dan Penn, Candi Staton and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. For more information including a full schedule of events, visit www.alabama200.org.
For more information about Montgomery, visit www.visitingmontgomery.com.
For high res. images of Montgomery, visit https://bit.ly/2ZDU1Vt.
Situated on the banks of the Alabama River, Montgomery is the capital and the second largest city in the state of Alabama. Established in 1819, Montgomery has been the site of major historic events which have shaped the history of the United States. Emerging from its agricultural roots in the 19th century, Montgomery transformed from the Cradle of the Confederacy to the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement in less than a century. Today, this vibrant river town is experiencing a resurgence which has seen its downtown revitalized and has reestablished itself as a landmark Deep South destination. Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) offers non-stop flights on Delta Airlines and American Airlines. For more information, call 334-261-1100 or visit the official website of the Montgomery Convention and Visitor Bureau at www.visitingmontgomery.com. Stay connected with Montgomery on Twitter (@MGMCapitalCool) and Facebook (@MontgomeryCapitalCool).