Museums, Parks and Attractions in Birmingham, Alabama
The area grew and become known for much more than its iron. During the 1950’s, the city was at the center of the civil rights movement in the United States. It is here that such figures as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., worked to build equality for all people.
Today, the city is an economic center. Its downtown is home to major banks, large corporations, and hospitals and other medical facilities. The work that is done in the city, as it has throughout the history of the city, truly has an affect on the entire nation.
A visit to the thriving metropolitan area of over 1 million is a unique experience. Around every corner are pieces of the history this city. However, Birmingham has also worked to continue that history by creating world renowned museums and attractions. A trip to Birmingham is an experience with the past and the future.
Museums
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark-The history of Birmingham and the regions is truly built on iron. The sloss furnaces produced pig iron which was the foundation of this city’s mills.
Today, visitors can tour the sloss furnaces firsthand and experience what drove the economy of Birmingham for over 90 years. The museum features webs of pipes, massive furnaces, and the famous smokestacks which rose over the city-and helped to make the South.
Southern Museum of Flight-This museum details the history of flight. Visitors can see a night-landing light that was actually used by the Wright Brothers at a flight school they ran in Montgomery, Alabama. In addition, early bi-planes and other memorabilia are displayed.
For those who prefer more modern-day flight, the museum features modern-day jet planes, and even ultra-light machines. And for those who love military history, the museum has on exhibit a collection of military aircraft from World War II to the present.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum-For those who enjoy vehicles of a different sort, then the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the place to go. The museum, which opened in 1994, has on display over 900 motorcycles ranging from the vintage to the modern. This collection is one of the largest in the world.
In addition to the motorcycles, the museum also features a collection of racecars. The collection includes lotus racing machines. For anyone who is interested in the history of two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles, this state of the art museum is the place to go.
Birmingham Civil Rights Museum-For those wanting to take a look at the history of the Civil Rights Movement, the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum is a must see. Inside, visitors can experience the changes that this city and the nation have taken in the area of civil rights. The museum’s exhibits are truly a walk through time with visitors seeing a replica of the bus used by the Freedom Riders, as well as the actual jail cell door from where Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote “letters from Birmingham Jail.
By experiencing the museum, visitors will have the opportunity to experience another piece of Birmingham history. Across the street from the museum is the famous 16th St. Baptist Church. It is this church that the Ku Klux Klan bombed on September 15, 1963. The bombing killed four girls, and truly gave the nation a view of the importance of the Civil Rights Movement.
The Birmingham Museum of Art-The Birmingham Museum of Art is the largest municipal museum in the Southeast. The museum contains over 21,000 pieces of artwork which date from ancient Egypt to the modern day. The collections include paintings, sculptures, and even graphic arts.
The museum’s permanent collection contains a variety of pieces. These include Native American artwork, European, Asian, and African art. In addition, the museum also contains an extensive photography collection.
Arlington Antebellum Home-This beautiful mansion was built somewhere between 1845 and 1850, before the founding of Birmingham in 1871. The home is completely restored to its original grandeur. Besides giving visitors a glimpse into antebellum homes of the period, the museum also features antiques and beautiful artwork.
Parks
Vulcan Park-If a view of the city is what you are after, then there is no better place to do it than Vulcan Park. Here, sitting atop a pedestal 126 feet in the air is the 56 foot tall statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge. The statue was originally built in 1904 for the St Louis World’s Fair. The statue was to represent the city’s iron industry.
Today, the statue sits on a 10 acre park on Birmingham’s Red Mountain. Visitors can view the city from its observation balcony. From the balcony, panoramic views of the city in all directions are possible.
Birmingham Zoo-If seeing wild and exotic animals is what you desire, then the city has the Birmingham Zoo. Inside the zoo, visitors can see over 700 different types of animals. The zoo features alligators, giraffes, kudu, gazelles, and even ostriches. In addition, the zoo features an aviary where visitors can truly get an up-close view of exotic birds.
Ruffner Mountain Nature Center-For those who want to experience woodlands in the heart of a major city, then this 1000 acre park is the place to be. Here, visitors can travel 11 miles of hiking trails. In addition, the nature center features various types of animals native to Alabama, including raptors, snakes, turtles, frogs, and salamanders.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens-Next to the Birmingham Zoo is an oasis of 67 acres of plants and gardens. The park includes a Japanese Garden with bonsai trees and a tea house, the Hill Garden with a lily pond, and the Formal Garden with twin urn fountains and a cabaniss walk.
Attractions
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame-The Hall of Fame, with its Art-Deco building, pays tribute to some of the jazz greats that had ties to Alabama. Visitors will see exhibits details the accomplishments of Nat King Cole, Lionel Hampton, and Duke Ellington-and get to take a musical journal through jazz beginning with the boogie woogie.
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame-For the sports lover, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame pays tribute to athletes with ties to Alabama. The Hall of Fame features over 4,000 pieces of sports memorabilia. The items include uniforms, trophies, awards, and photographs of such Alabama greats as Jesse Owens, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays.
McWane Center-The McWane Center offers a truly interactive experience with science and technology. The center features exhibits teaching principles of science, the wonders of the oceans and their living creatures, and even an interactive experience into space flight.
The Center also houses an IMAX dome theatre. Here visitors can experience extraordinary movies on a 6 foot screen with state of the art sound. The theatres seats 280 for the maximum in viewing pleasure.
Birmingham is full of history and culture. From its beginnings with iron, to the civil rights movement and beyond, the city offers more than most realize. A trip to this city is not one that will soon be forgotten.
