ALABAMA, THE HISTORIC BIRTHPLACE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS

Three cities in Alabama were central to the fight against segregation in the United States. Birmingham, the largest city in the state, features several iconic buildings, including the 16th Street Baptist Church in the Civil Rights District. The city’s first Black American church, it soon became the headquarters of the country’s civil rights movement. Montgomery and Selma, located about 100 kilometers apart, were also hotbeds of civil rights resistance. Several major events unfolded in the area, culminating in the 1965 march between the two cities. One of the earliest acts of resistance occurred in Montgomery in 1955. Refusing to give up her seat on a bus, Rosa Parks was arrested and a large-scale boycott of Montgomery’s bus system was launched, lasting over 380 days. This campaign resulted in a compliance order against the State of Alabama by the U.S. Supreme Court, the first major victory of the U.S. civil rights movement. A few months earlier, Martin Luther King Jr. became pastor of one of the city’s churches, the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, helping to position King as the movement’s future leader.

In the decades since, these Alabama cities have built tributes to this fundamental struggle of the 20th century. The Rosa Parks Library & Museum and the recent Legacy Pavilion at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery are two examples. Also noteworthy is the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, which continues through several Southern states, guiding visitors to churches, schools and museums that witnessed major advances in the struggle for social justice and equal rights throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

A Culturally Rich State

Alabama is a multi-faceted state. This is particularly evident in its cultural assets: it is both a leader in the aeronautics industry and a cradle of 1960s music, not to mention its rich and varied architecture. It’s impossible to talk about Alabama without mentioning the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. This aerospace enthusiast’s paradise features the Apollo 16 capsule, a NASA research center and, best of all, a space flight and weightlessness experience.

Practical Information

POPULATION: 4.9 million

CAPITAL CITY: Montgomery

TIME DIFFERENCE: -7h

CLIMATE: Subtropical with hot and humid summers. Spring and autumn are dry and very pleasant, while winters are quite mild.

WHEN TO GO? The best time to go is between February and May. October, November and December are also a nice period to visit.

LOCAL TIP: The distances between cities are short, so four stops are enough to visit the entire state.

DID YOU KNOW? The Mardi Gras festival has its origins in Alabama. The city of Mobile was indeed, before New Orleans, the capital of Louisiana. The Mobile Carnival dates back to 1703 and is therefore the oldest such celebration in the U.S.

For music fans, The Shoals is a group of four communities that give the impression of time-traveling to the 1960s. The FAME Studios took up residence here in 1961, bringing internationally known artists such as Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge and the Rolling Stones to the area, cementing The Shoals’ emblematic place in music.

Architecture is also a strong point for the state, from antebellum gems in Mobile to sumptuous Art Deco buildings in Birmingham. Moreover, the Rosenbaum House in Florence – the only structure designed by great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in Alabama –invites anyone intrigued by contemporary style.

Natural Wonders

Alabama boasts a wealth of natural beauty. From scenic parks to white sandy beaches, the state is full of landscapes worth a visit.

In the north, not far from Fort Payne, two stops beckon nature lovers: DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon National Preserve, a protected space with towering rock cliffs. In the heart of these parks are numerous hiking trails. A little further south is the Congo Nature Preserve, recently created to protect an inviting area for kayaking and swimming near waterfalls.

Toward the center of the state, follow the Talladega Scenic Drive through the forest of the same name, showcasing multiple colors and varieties of trees. This road passes by the highest point in the state, Mount Cheaha, which offers a breathtaking view.

Finally, head south to the Gulf of Mexico and beautiful inlets like Mobile Bay. This ribbon of pristine whitesand beaches, which stretches for about 50 kilometers, is composed of quartz grains from the Appalachian Mountains. Alabama’s Gulf Shores and Dauphin Island beaches are known for offering colorful sunsets. (Just watch for protected nesting sea turtles between May and October – you might even be able to witness them hatching!) Or, enjoy a long walk on 25 kilometers of paved trails and boardwalks that wind through the heart of Gulf State Park, immersing you in Alabama’s maritime forests.

GATEWAYS:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS:

Huntsville International Airport (HSV)

Birmingham - Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)

Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM)

Mobile Regional Airport (MOB)