By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
MONTGOMERY—For hundreds of high school students from across Alabama, Boys State offers far more than a lesson in government. The week-long program provides an immersive experience in leadership, citizenship, and public service, giving participants a firsthand look at the institutions and individuals who help shape Alabama.
Sponsored by the American Legion, Alabama Boys State brings together rising high school seniors from throughout the state for what organizers call “The Week That Shapes a Lifetime.” Through mock elections, legislative sessions, court proceedings, and leadership activities, delegates gain practical experience in how the government works while developing skills that can serve them throughout their lives.
Participants in the 2026 program also had the opportunity to hear from several prominent leaders, including Alabama House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels; former U.S. Senator and current gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones; Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Chris McCool: 2025 Girls State student governor Missy Williams; Stewart McLaurin, current president of the White House Historical Association; Boys State Vice Director Jason M. Jones; and many more. The speakers shared valuable insights on leadership, public service, history, and civic engagement.
One of the highlights of the week that the group seemed most excited about was the annual trip to Montgomery, where delegates traveled by bus to Alabama’s capital city for a day of learning and exploration.
According to The Citizen Builder, the newspaper produced by Boys State participants, the delegation was quite excited to tour the Alabama State Capitol, which was completed in 1851 and has served as the center of Alabama government for more than 180 years ever since it moved to Montgomery from Tuscaloosa.
Boys State participants explored the Capitol’s rotunda, legislative chambers, executive offices, and historic areas within the building.
Delegates viewed the location where Confederate President Jefferson Davis lay in state following his death in 1889 and visited a courtroom associated with proceedings related to the historic Scottsboro Boys cases, a series of trials that became a landmark chapter in American civil rights and legal history.
The delegation also visited the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Montgomery memorial dedicated to victims of racial terror lynchings in the United States. Opened in 2018, the memorial serves as a place of reflection and remembrance while documenting a difficult chapter in the nation’s history. The group also toured other important memorials and monuments in our state’s capital.
Following lunch on the Capitol grounds, delegates divided into specialized interest groups and traveled throughout Montgomery to learn more about professions and institutions that matched their interests.
Students visited a wide range of organizations and government offices, including the Montgomery Regional Chamber, WSFA News Studio, the Alabama Supreme Court Building, the Office of State Treasurer Young Boozer, the Alabama House of Representatives Chamber, the Alabama State Senate Chamber, the Alabama League of Municipalities, the Legislative Services Agency, the Alabama Farmers Federation, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Delegates participating in legislative programs met inside the chambers of Alabama lawmakers and discussed legislation much like elected officials do during regular sessions. Constitutional Convention participants met with individuals involved in Alabama’s 2022 constitutional recompilation effort, while students interested in law enforcement, healthcare, military service, emergency response, agriculture, and municipal government learned directly from professionals working in those fields.
During the visit to ALEA headquarters, students learned a great deal about the agency’s specialized units and statewide duties and responsibilities. The boys got a close-up look at the inner workings of Alabama’s head law enforcement agency.
“We appreciate the opportunity to share our mission and showcase the dedicated men and women who work every day to keep Alabama’s communities safe,” ALEA said in a statement. “Investing in future leaders and fostering a greater understanding of public service remains an important part of our commitment to the citizens of Alabama.”
Some groups concluded their scheduled activities early enough to allow additional exploration of the Capitol complex. Several delegates visited the Alabama Department of Archives and History, where they viewed artifacts and exhibits documenting the state’s rich and complex history.
The Montgomery trip has long been considered one of the signature experiences of Alabama Boys State. According to The Citizen Builder, the excursion allows delegates to connect classroom concepts and government simulations with real-world institutions and leaders.
For many participants, the experience provides a deeper understanding of how government functions and how citizens can become involved in shaping their communities. As the 2026 session came to a close, delegates left with new friendships, valuable leadership lessons, and a greater appreciation for public service.
The memories made during the week, organizers say, are often among the most lasting lessons Boys State has to offer. For girls participating in this year’s Girls State activities, the adventures begin tomorrow, May 31.
All images below were shared courtesy of Boys State:
