ASU StadiumMontgomery, Alabama

The nation's first memorial dedicated to victims of racial terror lynching, featuring 805 suspended steel monuments representing every U.S. county where a documented lynching took place — a profoundly moving outdoor experience on a six-acre hilltop site.

💡 One $5 general admission ticket covers all four EJI Legacy Sites including the indoor Legacy Museum; a free shuttle runs every 15 minutes between sites. Closed Monday AND Tuesday (not just Tuesday as sometimes stated).

Built on the exact spot where Rosa Parks was arrested in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat, this museum uses life-size recreations and original artifacts to tell the story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

💡 The museum closes for lunch noon–1 pm daily; plan your visit around that window. Admission: $7.50 adults, $5.50 children (ages 5–12); a Children's Wing at 220 Montgomery St is available. Open Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm, Sat 8 am–3 pm.

The 1851 Greek Revival capitol where Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as Confederate president and where Martin Luther King Jr. led the Selma-to-Montgomery marchers to the steps in 1965, making it a rare site where multiple defining chapters of American history intersect.

💡 Free self-guided access Monday–Friday only (closed Saturday and Sunday). Guided tours for groups of 15+ require advance booking via 334-242-3935. The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where King pastored, is directly across the street and worth a stop.

A 40-acre ZAA-accredited zoo with more than 500 animals from five continents displayed in barrier-free naturalistic habitats, paired with the adjoining Mann Wildlife Learning Museum featuring hundreds of mounted wildlife specimens.

💡 Admission covers the Zoo, Mann Museum, Waters of the World aquatic exhibit, and Reptile Facility. During June and July, Thrifty Tuesdays offer 50% off afternoon admission (noon–3:30 pm, in-person purchase only). Note: the zoo holds ZAA accreditation, not AZA.