Alabama State Capitol - Montgomery, Alabama

Alabama State Capitol - Montgomery, Alabama

A visit to the Alabama State Capitol will give you a true opportunity to learn about the history of the state and the Confederacy.  The Confederacy began in the original Senate chamber in Montgomery.  It was chosen as the site to invite the seceding states to meet because of the central location, good railroad and river connections to the south and east and was the center of Southern radical activity.  In February 1861 the Confederate Congress convened with delegates from South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana.  Montgomery served as the capital of the Confederacy.  The capital was moved to Richmond, Virginia in July of that year when Virginia seceded from the Union.  There is a commemorative brass marker in the shape of a six-pointed star is set at the precise location (on the top step, to the right of the door, between the middle columns) where Jefferson Davis stood on February 18, 1861, to take his oath of office as first (and only) President of the Confederate States of America.

Other historical information includes the ending of the 1965 Voting Rights March on the street in front of the building. What had started out with 3,200 marchers in Selma ended up with 25,000 at the capital in Montgomery.  This march was instrumental in getting President Lyndon Johnson to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The capitol was built on Goat Hill in 1847 and was destroyed by fire in 1849.  The current State Capitol was constructed on the same site and completed in 1851.  Over the years there have been many additions to the building to accommodate the growing government.  They were the east wing added to the buildings rear in 1885, a south wing in 1906, a matching north wing in 1912, and along with a complete renovation to the whole building a modern addition to the rear in 1992.

The areas that are open for tourists are the entry foyer with twin opposing cantilever stairwells, the old Governors Office, the old State Supreme Court and the old Supreme Court Library, the Rotunda, the old House of Representatives, and the old Senate Chamber. The Alabama Legislature was housed in the capitol until 1985 when they moved to another building because the capitol was undergoing renovation.  They are still in the other building although the constitution of the state says they are to be in the State Capitol building.  They did convene at the Capitol on May 7, 2009 due to flooding in the State House but as soon as that was resolved they returned to the State House.

The original center core of the capitol building is done in the Greek Revival style featuring a circular drum tower capped with a dome and cupola.  At a later time the Neoclassical wings were added at the sides and the back.  The building stands 119 feet tall.

The State of Alabama has had 5 capitals since it was a territory and state beginning in 1817.  Saint Stephens (there is an article about Saint Stephen on another page on this site), Huntsville was next.  Then Cahaba (also spelled Cahawba) was selected in 1820.  Tuscaloosa also had a brief stint of being the capital.  When it was finally decided to make a permanent capital Montgomery won with 16 ballots being cast in its favor in the General Assembly. 

Location: 600 Dexter Ave., Montgomery, Alabama 36104

Tours: Monday – Friday: Self-guided tours are available daily to individuals and small groups from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST. Pre-arranged guided tours are offered hourly for groups of 15 or more. Saturday: Guided tours are available at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. to individuals and groups. Closed Sundays and state holidays. Groups: All guided tours must be pre-arranged through the Tour Office.  The tours are free to the public.

Telephone: (334) 242-3935

Email: capitoltours@preserveala.org