Montgomery
Montgomery County was created in 1816, three years before Alabama became a state. The city of Montgomery became the state capitol in 1846. It is known both as the “Cradle of the Confederacy” and the birthplace of the modern Civil Rights movement, and many of its historic sites and museums recount those roles. The Museum of Alabama at the Alabama Department of Archives and History offers artifacts, videos, murals, and a detailed diorama of a Native American village to tell Alabama’s history. A park on the Alabama River has a replica of the Wright Brother’s flyer to commemorate the county being the home of the nation’s first flying school. In addition to a zoo, fine arts museum, and planetarium, the county is also home to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.