Downtown Montgomery in one walk: Riverfront Park and the Riverwalk, the Harriott II, the Legacy Museum, the Rosa Parks Museum, the Capitol and where to park.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts come from each site’s own website: the City of Montgomery, the Legacy Sites, the Rosa Parks Museum, the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Downtown Montgomery runs from the Alabama River up Commerce Street to Court Square and then up Dexter Avenue to the State Capitol. In a day on foot you can walk the Riverwalk, stand where the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March ended, see the museums that tell the city’s civil rights story and finish with dinner and live music by the river.

Know before you go

  • Parking: city meters are free on weekends and after 5 p.m. on weekdays; otherwise use the meter, a kiosk or ParkMobile.
  • Closed days: the Legacy Sites close Tuesday; the Rosa Parks Museum closes Sunday; the art museum is not downtown.
  • Riverfront Park and the Harriott II: 334-625-2100. City 311: 334-625-4636.

The riverfront

From the city’s riverfront facilities list:

Place Address What’s there
Riverfront Park 355 Commerce St. Riverwalk, amphitheater, open lawn, splash pad
Riverwalk Amphitheater 355 Coosa St. Amphitheater, shelter and room rentals
Splash pad 355 Coosa St. Splash pad by the amphitheater
Rotary Dog Park 98 Coosa St. Dog park
Union Station Train Shed 300 Water St. Event space
Harriott II Riverboat 255 Commerce St. landing River cruises

The arch at the foot of Commerce Street leads down through a tunnel to the Riverwalk, the amphitheater and the riverboat landing. DABOS Park, 200 Coosa St., is home to the Montgomery Biscuits minor league baseball team, and Red Bluff Bar at the Silos, 335 Coosa St., books live music beside the old grain silos.

Civil rights sites

  • The Legacy Museum, 400 N. Court St. One $5 general admission ticket covers the museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice (417 Caroline St.), the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park (831 Walker St.) and Montgomery Square. Open Wednesday to Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Tuesday; from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28 the sites close at 5 p.m. Free shuttles run between the sites every 15 minutes, and a short boat ride goes to the sculpture park. Plan three to five hours for the museum.
  • Rosa Parks Museum, 252 Montgomery St., run by Troy University; its Children’s Wing is at 220 Montgomery St. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday (closed noon to 1 p.m.) and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday. Tours are self-guided and start on the hour and half hour.
  • Civil Rights Memorial, 400 Washington Ave.: open plaza, 24 hours, free.
  • Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, 454 Dexter Ave.: Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m.

Capitol Hill

At the top of Dexter Avenue, the Alabama State Capitol, 600 Dexter Ave., offers free daily self-guided and guided tours (334-242-3935). Across Washington Avenue, the Museum of Alabama, 624 Washington Ave., is free and open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Both are on our free things to do list.

Eat, drink and listen

Downtown bars and music venues, from Bar Attico on Commerce Street to Common Bond Brewers on Bibb Street and the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre on Tallapoosa Street, are on our live music and nightlife page. D’Road Cafe on Montgomery Street serves breakfast Tuesday to Saturday; see brunch.

Getting there and around

  • Parking: meters and kiosks are free on weekends and after 5 p.m. on weekdays; pay at other times with coins, a kiosk or the ParkMobile app.
  • By bus: The M’s routes serve downtown; see getting around.
  • First Saturdays: the Montgomery Street Market Trail runs 4 to 7 p.m. on a 1-mile route from Cottage Hill through downtown to Old Alabama Town, through December.

More: history and landmarks, parks and trails and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Is parking free in downtown Montgomery?

City parking meters and kiosks are free on weekends and after 5 p.m. on weekdays. At other times pay at the meter, a kiosk or with the ParkMobile app.

What are the Legacy Museum’s hours?

The Legacy Sites are open Wednesday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed Tuesday. From Nov. 1 to Feb. 28 they close at 5 p.m. One $5 general admission ticket covers all four sites, and free shuttles run between them every 15 minutes.

When is the Rosa Parks Museum open?

The Troy University Rosa Parks Museum, 252 Montgomery St., is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch) and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday.

What is there to do at Riverfront Park in Montgomery?

Riverfront Park, 355 Commerce St., has the Riverwalk along the Alabama River, an amphitheater, an open lawn, a splash pad, the Rotary Dog Park and the Harriott II riverboat landing.