With our beach days over for now, we headed back to the hills and north to Montgomery, Alabama. As any history buff can verify, Montgomery has had two pivotal moments in American history – the birth of the Confederacy and the Civil Rights Movement. There is no better place for me as an immigrant to delve into it than in the city which was the center of it all. The city has done a great job of preserving, restoring and marking historical areas that allow us visitors to walk and follow the Civil Heritage Trail. I will share a few highlights of the many historic sites – hopefully you won’t fall asleep halfway through.
Montgomery is where a fascinating period in American history began, when in Feb 1861 six of the seven seceded states formed a new nation to be called the Confederate States of America. This is where they established a provisional government, selecting Montgomery as the provisional capital and electing their first and only president, Jefferson Davis of Mississippi.
Because of its significance in American history, the state capitol is a designated National Landmark. In Feb 1861, it served as the first capitol of the Confederacy with Jefferson Davis being sworn in on the front steps as its President. Much later, on March 25, 1965 this spot is where the Civil Rights March ended. The march, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., demanded voting rights for African Americans. President Johnson passed into law the Voting Rights Act of 1965 five months later.
Just around the corner from the capitol is the First White House of the Confederacy, where the President and his wife lived during the first months of the confederacy until the confederate capital moved to Richmond, VA in May 1861.
We stood at the bus stop where, in 1955, Rosa Parks sparked the Bus Boycott – signaling the start of the Civil Rights Movement and making Montgomery the epicenter of a groundbreaking societal shift in this country.
An ornate fountain built in 1885 on top of an existing artesian basin can be seen at the center of town. It is named Court Square Fountain.
On another day we drove about 20 miles from our campground to the Daniel Pratt Historic Disctrict in the city of Prattville. We checked out Autauga Creek and the manufacturing complex around which this New Engand style village was developed by Daniel Pratt. He chose this town to build his gin mill, saw mill and grist mill on the banks of Autauga Creek in the early 1830’s.
Before the rain hit us again, I visited the Jasmine Hill Gardens, nicknamed “Alabama’s little corner of Greece”. It is a 20-acre garden that features mythical gods and Olympian heroes. The facade of the Olympian Center, which is the entrance to the garden, is an adaptation of the Temple of Hera the oldest sacred building in Olympia, Greece
The gardens feature reproductions of famous Greek works of art and Olympian heroes and inside was the world’s only full-size replica of the Temple of Hera ruins at Olympia, site of the ancient Olympic Games.
The rain did come, and we had a leak leak similar to the one at Patagonia, AZ. This time Steve figured out that the rain had created a pool of water on top of the slide cover and seeped through it. So, we know the cause of the problem and that it only happens under certain conditions. Now all we have to do is figure out what to do about it. 
We stayed at our first US Army Corp of Engineers (COE) campground, and it became one of our favorites. We stayed on the Catoma Loop at Gunter Hill Campground, the newer of the the two loops. The park is wooded and right on a lake. Most of the sites are super long and there is generous space between sites. The downside is that there are no hiking trails, but we made do by walking/biking to the other Antioch Loop, which is about 4 miles roundtrip. I particularly liked it here, as our feathered friends were abundant in the area. The park is about 20 miles south of Montgomery. Click here for Steve’s review.
Steve loves to cook, and when the weather turned gorgeous he did his thing:
And with spring come the blooms!
Lowes Travels 
Looks like you had a great visit in the Montgomery area. We didn’t get out much while we were there, but this is an area we know we will be back to in the future, so we don’t feel too bad about staying put while there this year. I found it interesting that there’s no mention on the plaque at the Court Square Fountain that the area was also a slave pit.
Gunter Hill is definitely on our must-stay campground list … we liked what we saw when we went for a drive-through of the Catoma Loop in early March.
We did enjoy, three days out and 4 days in doing nothing 🙂
I’ve heard those COE parks are nice, can’t wait to stay in one! Thanks for sharing!
This is our first COE and will be used as a benchmark to our next COE.
I have a similar problem with my slide-out topper, which leaks water during long rain periods… then leaks through my slide-out. I’ve been advised to use tent waterproofing spray to keep water from leaking through the topper. I’m going to try it… maybe it will help your situation?
Ron
We will try that as will, and we will let you know. Thanks for the tip.
I enjoy your posts and pictures always. We lived in a 21′ class C for 13 months back in 2000 when my hubby was traveling for his job, and our youngest son was homeschooled. We stayed in the Gunter Hill park twice. It is beautiful! When we were there the laundry was free, but that was 13 yrs ago. Also, at one end of the park, there was a sewer smell from a processing center that was fairly bad when the wind came from that direction. Did you get any of that odor? Still a lovely park, and we would stay there again if we are in that area.
Oh thank you, We stayed at the newer Catoma Loop and we did not smell anything. This loop is now our new favorite campground
Thanks for sharing the history of Montgomery and the beautiful photographs. I’m learning a lot from your travels. Keep enjoying the south. Big hug to you both.
Thanks Marcy and happy birthday.
Oh, how I would love to visit that garden. The campground looks like a place Al and I would really enjoy Sorry about the leak. Hope you figure it out soon. Happy trails 🙂
We are sure you would love this COE but make sure if you stay here choose the newer Catoma Loop.
This is a great bit of info. Thanks, I am getting hooked on the Civil War history. Looks like we will need to plan an extended south east trip sometime in the future.
The COE Parks are great without exception. Look for the book, Camping with the Corps. it is a great resource.
If you are hooked on Civil Ware history you might wanna spend more time at the Alabama Department of Archives and History which is just across the street from the Capitol.
Your slide leak sounds very similar to the one we struggled with in our 2nd year. The slide shouldn’t leak even without a topper, so it sounds like either an alignment or seal issue. In our case we needed a slide adjustment, a new inner seal and finally an extra shim on the inside to ge the alignment correct.
Nina
Thanks for the info, Nina. I’ve actually suspected an alignment problem on that slide for a while and will focus on that and the seal along the top. Take care! ~Steve
A wonderful campground. I’m surprised to see FHU AND a concrete pad at a COE park. Great find!
John would love this city beginning a history person. I would love the garden…a little something for everyone.
Love the way you displayed the flower photos.
This is our first COE and because it is soo nice we will use this as a benchmark to our future COE parks.
As for the flowers, wordpress did it for me but thanks.
Alabama is one of my favorite southern states for history as we traveled through it many times when heading to the emerald beaches! Did you pass the “peach” exit :O) Speaking of COE parks…I just got the directory in the mail from Amazon yesterday. It’s going to be so handy…so many parks to choose from. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0937877514/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for the recommendation we will get that book as we now starting to like COE parks. I am unsure if i have seen the “peach” exit hmmm maybe i missed it.
We are Gay and Joe Taylor…good-times-rollin.blogspot.com
Just saw your blog on Pam and John’s blog. We are from LaGrange, GA and that caught my eye.
Loved your tour of Montgomery! It is a beautiful city!
Thanks for checking us out. We are enjoying your town. Currently under a tornado watch until 11PM.
Thanks for the history lesson. Given our proximity to the south, this looks like a great place to put on the list. Hope you get your slide issue taken care of. We live in fear of leaks. Your photos are stunning and Steve’s recipes look yummy. I love ceviche but hubby is not too crazy about it.
Thanks Luann, when the storm came, our temporary remedy to avoid the leak is bringing the slide in. I think we will have it check somewhere along our route. And yes the shrimp ceviche is yummy.
HEY! Didn’t know Steve was a gourmet cook. Next time we meet Steve’s cooking! Looks YUMMY.
Steve would love to do it! Maybe when you are in your new house in NM will meet up someday on our way back to the west.
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