Rich in history
Alabama is a state rich in history and is probably best known for its key role in two of the most momentous events in US history, the American Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. In 1861, Southern politicians gathered at the State Capitol in Montgomery and formed the Confederate States of America with Montgomery as its first Capital. The telegram that started the Civil War was sent from here. Three years later in 1864, Mobile Bay in the south of the state was also the scene of an important naval struggle when the outnumbered Confederate fleet surrendered. Alabama was also under the World’s spotlight from 1955 to 1968 when the Civil Rights Movement gathered pace under the leadership of Dr Martin Luther King. Museums, bridges, churches and historic sites chronicle key episodes of this movement throughout the State. The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, the Rosa Parks Museum and Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute are just some of the must-see museums and landmarks.