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Lower Commerce Street Historic District: A Walk Through Time

Discover Montgomery's Lower Commerce Street Historic District: Architecture, commerce, and history in the heart of Alabama.

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Explore Montgomery's Lower Commerce Street Historic District, a captivating area showcasing the city's 19th and early 20th-century commercial architecture and its complex history related to river trade and the Civil War era [3, 7].

A brief summary to Lower Commerce Street Historic District

  • 121 Coosa St, Montgomery, Alabama, 36104, US

Local tips

  • Take a self-guided walking tour to appreciate the architectural details of the historic buildings [3].
  • Visit nearby attractions like the Riverfront Park and the Montgomery Union Station to enhance your historical experience [3].
  • Check out local events and festivals that often take place in the district [3].
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the Montgomery Riverwalk, head north on Commerce Street [3]. The Lower Commerce Street Historic District will be on your left, starting around Coosa Street [3]. Walking is the best way to explore the district's architectural details [3]. No costs involved [3].

  • Taxi/Ride-share

    Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are available in Montgomery [3, 12, 14]. A short ride from downtown hotels or the Civil Rights Memorial to the Lower Commerce Street Historic District will cost approximately $8-$12, depending on traffic [3].

  • Public Transport

    The M, Montgomery's transit system, provides transportation to locations throughout the city [10]. Check The M's website or call for specific routes and schedules [10]. A single ride fare is around $1.50 [14].

Unlock the Best of Lower Commerce Street Historic District

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Discover more about Lower Commerce Street Historic District

The Lower Commerce Street Historic District in Montgomery, Alabama, offers a glimpse into the city's commercial and social history [3]. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the district features a collection of late 19th and early 20th-century commercial buildings and warehouses [3, 4]. Commerce Street was the lifeblood of early Montgomery, serving as a vital link to the Alabama River for trade and transportation [3, 6]. Founded as the village of East Alabama in 1818, it merged with New Philadelphia to form Montgomery in 1819 [3, 7]. Commerce Street's direct access to the river landing solidified its importance [3, 6]. Before the Civil War, the street was a route where enslaved people were marched from the Alabama River to auction sites [3, 7]. After the Civil War, the area became the principal wholesale district for Central Alabama [3]. By the 1880s, elaborate warehouses and commercial buildings replaced earlier structures, reflecting the city's economic growth [3]. The district's architecture showcases Italianate, Classical Revival, and Renaissance Revival influences [3, 4]. Buildings feature decorative details in metal, brick, stone, and terra cotta, with metal cornices and hoodmolds [3, 6]. The buildings are simple rectangular blocks, ranging from two to four stories, with taller buildings grouped in the southern portion of the district [3]. The Steiner-Lobman/Teague Hardware Store stands out with its unusual tower [3]. Today, the Lower Commerce Street Historic District reminds us of Montgomery's commercial past [3].

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