Alabama State Capitol Travel Guide

Located atop Capitol Hill, originally known as Goat Hill, the Alabama State Capitol has been a witness to history since its completion in 1851 [2, 6, 9]. Designed in the Greek Revival style, it replaced an earlier structure that burned down [7, 9]. The building has been expanded over the years to accommodate the growing state government [2, 7].In 1861, the Alabama State Capitol served as the birthplace of the Confederate States of America when delegates from Southern states gathered in the Senate Chamber to establish a new nation [5, 9]. Over a century later, the Capitol grounds were the endpoint of the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March in 1965, a watershed moment in the Civil Rights Movement [5, 9, 17]. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed an estimated 25,000 people from the Capitol steps, advocating for equality and justice [17].Today, the Alabama State Capitol functions as a working museum [4, 5, 17]. Visitors can explore the restored House of Representatives, Senate Chamber, Old Supreme Court Chamber and Library, and the Rotunda [6, 12]. The Governor's office and other executive branch officers still occupy offices in the building [4, 5]. Free self-guided tours are available, and guided tours can be arranged for groups [4, 5, 8, 16].