Montgomery, Alabama’s Vacant Downtown - A Capitol City Full Of History

[@dirtywaterpj_dj]

It’s great that Rosa Parks is celebrated. But everyone should also know the name of Claudette Colvin. She did it before Parks. But Colvin didn’t fit the PR requirements to be the figurehead for the protest.

[@brendaz9222]

True! Another example of media spin.

[@MistyMorningMangoes]

100% true!

[@guineveregruntle6746]

Claudette did not support the narrative of “those in charge” of the protests

[@TheTamrock2007]

Thank you for sharing that.

[@dhsobers9195]

There were many before Ms. Covin and many after Mrs. Parks. I’m glad Mrs. Parks was and still is celebrated to this day.

[@KungFuFighter-h3k]

Nothing is as refreshing as good ol' fashioned honesty. "He looks like a mean ol' bastard". And my personal favorite "Shut up Joe ". Don't mess with Nicole. Thanks y'all.

[@pclayton5063]

When the Capitol was going through renovations in the late 1980's I was doing a retirement ceremony for a friend, a native Alabamian, and arranged to fly an Alabama flag on top of the capitol dome. Lucky to get this done with all the construction but the Capitol Facility Manager gave us a quick tour through the building, including the Governor's office where he showed us the elevator installed when George Wallace was Governor, and then took us up through a trap door to the dome. It was pretty high up so quickly unfurled our flag and gave it a brief wave. It's a very interesting place to visit so take the opportunity if you get the chance.

[@holly5791]

I have been to my state's capital, in Montgomery, more than once. I actually got to sit in the gallery in the House of Representatives and listen to bills being discussed. There is a wall of glass between the gallery and the floor. My guess is that it is probably bulletproof? That was a very unique experience for the ordinary citizen to have. I'm glad you visited Alabama and hope you will return. From the mountains to the beach, there's a lot to see.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We've done quite a few Alabama videos, with more on the way! :)

[@brendaz9222]

Born there, lived and worked there for 33 yrs. Glad I moved to FL. Montgomery is crime ridden now and not a place I would live. You have 1 in 195 chance of being a victim of violent crime. Property crime is 1 in 31. Most folks who still have to work there, commute in from surrounding counties.

[@josephj.6478]

The eastern and central parts of the city are actually safe and great places to live. It's just the southern part of the city that isn't so great.🙁 Saying this as a local

[@libbylife7161]

Awesome! You inspire me to encourage folks to clean their cities and bring our country back to what made it great. Save 🇺🇸.

[@Timberon]

Great video. We love touring towns like you do! Can't wait to see where you all go next.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome! :)

[@ivonnemouet385]

Alabama. The Beautiful!!

[@michellec.9852]

Enjoying the history. I like how you research and share. Nice!

[@tasossaros8375]

Thanks for the upload 🙏

[@dirkwyse1609]

Thanks for the history lesson! Much appreciate your work.

[@ronaldshumaker6256]

I grew up in montgomery,50s and60s. It was a great place to live. Sorry not any more. Crime and poor leadership have destroyed the city. The once great public school system is pure garbage.

[@CorettaJG]

The city leadership was decades of old white men up until 2 or 3 years ago. The Alabama state leadership has looked similar for decades.

[@gogomountain]

Thanks for the nice video and commentary. It would have been nice to see a bit more of the residential areas, though, in case someone is considering moving to Montgomery. Anyway, good luck on your travels!

[@disco07]

At first, I was ready to bolt at the mention of slavery and the deadness of the town. However, your narration cutting to Rosa Parks, BLM, and the bus boycott grabbed my attention. Then a strange thing happened, I started enjoying the historical sites in Montgomery. Of course, Nic came on and gained my attention. Watched the whole video and enjoyed it. Thanks! By the way, Jeff Davis wife was Varina Davis and rumor has it, she was a very beautiful black woman. Just a little something to lighten things up! 😮

[@leeb.7188]

Kitchens were typically in separate buildings back then, due to the risk of fire. Better to let the small kitchen building burn down than the whole residence!

[@_5_675]

Interesting tour, thanks

[@bobbierosenthall3582]

Thanks for the info

[@ronliebermann]

One thing that these historical tours don’t mention is the number of counties in each state. Some states have fifty or more counties, each with its own municipal government. The whole thing is just a tax hustle. There’s no need for multiple counties, all with identical functions. In fact, there’s no need for any counties. Each state can have branch offices which provide the same services. And Circuit Court is also unnecessary. Every State already has a court system. The cost of government needs to be cut by eighty percent, so let’s eliminate all the counties, and circuit courts. Everything will be much cheaper and simpler.

[@jamieryall8341]

That Wrigley ad is called 'ghost sign.'

[@keyup2626]

I real like the downtown area. One of my ancestors owned slaves, I find it the most horrible to think they actually owned a person(s). How they thought it was alright is mind boggling to me. Slavery has always been and it’s still alive and well in our world today. The capital building is spectacular. Did I see spittoons in the restored part. I agree with you both that the old frat McVay ( sp.) looks like he belongs in horror movies.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

It was an interesting place, full of history. So much has happened in Montgomery in the past, but the city feels neglected, run down and sad now. And yes, you did see spitoons! They were everywhere.

[@keyup2626]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip how sad to let historical cities decline.

[@hoopty.]

@@keyup2626 corruption is 1 reason.

[@dopeMike_]

McVey kinda looked like a villian in a Scooby Doo cartoon.

[@andreaholcock8992]

@@join6624 lol shut up, old man. “The tribes” you only talk like that on the internet

[@paulinelynch3498]

Nice city l love it an thanks for showing us I am in jamaica

[@guineveregruntle6746]

Cradle of the Confederacy, Birthplace of Civil Rights

[@dennisromero4757]

I love the intro music, I'm guessing your daughter pick it out, and put it together like a DJ. Skills....

[@rvlivingwiththegeezer7791]

Is that 3 drinks apiece or per couple. Your videos are the best!👍

[@shaunhall960]

The breakfast looked good!

[@terrellelewis5349]

The Black Lives Matter mural on the downtown fountain was painted by a local artist...so no, BLM wasn't there or whatever that meant. However, I find your videos very interesting and informative.

[@anthonyreaves4770]

You should come through Rockford Alabama

[@WhittyPics]

Kitchens were in separate buildings because they tended to burn down.

[@garybryant6148]

Joe how much of the Jefferson Davis’s White House was original? When I watched this video, I was so impressed. So much history . Thank you. An outstanding video.

[@christianvidal1088]

Why are so many places abandoned ,so much nicer than what is built today

[@stephenhyder4659]

Did Nicole get her passport book stamped?

[@MrMilwaukee]

The south, still fighting the war

[@leeb.7188]

I thought Richmond, VA was the Capitol of the Confederacy….did they change it?

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

It was the second capital.

[@BigGator5]

Beautiful city. Rich in history, good and bad. I've always said that we should learn from the past, not live in the past. To not acknowledge the progress that has been made on all fronts, threatens to create more problems than solve them. We also can't infantilize a group of people, because that will only hold them back. The era of the bigotry of low expectations needs to come to an end! I also have a dream. I dream that one day White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian people alike came come together and BAN carpets! Especially the garish carpets shown in this video!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You didn’t like the Capitol Building carpet, I take it. 😬

[@BigGator5]

I don't like carpets, period. In my perfect world, carpets would banned as bacteria factories that they are and that they're too expensive to maintain (spill a drink on them and they're ruined).

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

@@BigGator5 I agree. I’ll never live in a place with carpet again. It’s like walking on dirty rags.

[@CorettaJG]

Yes, there has been progress, but the past is still present in many instances. My parents, who are in their early 70s, grew up in Montgomery and Camden Alabama on farms, as sharecroppers picking cotton and subjected to Jim Crow apartheid instead of treatment as full American citizens. If Martin Luther King Jr had not been murdered, he would have been younger than my grandparents today. This isn't ancient history. The woman at the center of the Emmett Till lynching that galvanized the modern Civil Rights Era only died a couple of months ago in 2023. People who were photographed in lynching post cards are still alive today.

[@brigspearman2171]

Actually, you’re one more thing you did miss is that we do have Supreme Court of Alabama

[@jroberts8442]

You missed soooo much! The Riverfront Amphitheater, the music and night life on Commerce St, the Legacy Museum, the many very old churches like St. Peter’s, The Biscuits Baseball Stadium, all the great restaurants downtown, the Governor’s mansion and all the other beautiful historic homes on Perry St. and in Old Cloverdale, the Southern Poverty Law Center Fountain, the National Museum for Peace and Justice, Old Alabama Town, the grave of Hank Williams, Alabama archives and history, The Museum at the old Greyhound Bus Station, etc. etc. etc. There is also a Whitewater Park downtown that was just completed. I grew up in Montgomery and still live close by and there has been so much improvement in the downtown area. You only saw 3 places and none of those were new places and museums built in the last 15 years. You should do some research, come back & see all you missed!

[@peaceevol]

Like the wife, good luck 👍

[@kathrynnard8059]

I've lived here for 64 years and there's a lot of history here. Hank Williams was from Montgomery al. You by passed his museum looking at the slave items. Nat King Cole was from here and he has a museum here. Awesome singers. Yes civil rights history but a lot more than just that. Get a pamphlet before coming here and it will give all the historical things in Montgomery. Did you notice the brick roads? Not many left but at one time was a type of road. Let's you see how far we've come. Did you see the trolley downtown? It actually is what makes houses on highland ave historical. The tracks are still in the ground. My house is one of the historical homes because of this trolley. Thanks for showing my city. Has alot of history in all areas.

[@RobertColfack]

Nicole looks great in a swimming suit or a tight pair of blue jeans she's the best thing about these videos...

[@TheTamrock2007]

Such history....might the city wake up and escape it's own destruction

[@donaldmilhoan6379]

I need to go to Montgomery.

[@josephj.6478]

I definitely recommend a visit! Many cool museums and restaurants

[@oogabooga9079]

Please do. Chris’ hot dogs is a must!

[@CWTAU]

Go to AUBURN.

[@Callylily7]

I have tell this story about the Capital Bldg. I have a friend who's son was on a field trip with his school visiting there. He saw a moving shadow like figure in one of the rooms that's roped off. There is a story about a ghost there. BTW ..I live in Alabama.

[@maryatchison9056]

What's opion

[@dopeMike_]

the little brother of opium.

[@carliajones4583]

🤗👍🏾

[@lorenegray-edgerson1463]

IT'S AMAZING THAT RON DESANTIS WANTS TO ELEMINATE BLACK HISTORY ...BUT PRESERVES THEIR HISTORY..THE CONFEDERACY IN ALL IT'S GLORY...HOW HYPOCRITICAL!!!

[@dopeMike_]

You forgot to turn the caps lock off.

[@ibkhansen8036]

I laugh a little at that wife she smokes she also does fitness in my opinion, it is a bit contradictory you want to be healthy with not too healthy???

[@howardlowry6412]

I don't laugh at all you tobacco police!

[@cgulden]

Alcohol drinks.

[@elizabethgarcia7245]

I like you video, because I Latin people and study English listening. And you talk clearing, and slowly I lake you video very much thanks. You wife is beautiful 😍

[@osirismoon]

Missed MLK's old house that was bombed.

[@maryatchison9056]

What's your opinions on Black lives matters

[@monkknom6919]

that is a beautiful capital building, just the everything makes no sense i know but shes a beauty its more pretty than texas or wisconsin dam