Explore Birmingham, the cultural heart of Alabama
From its moniker as the ‘Dinner Table of the South’ to its packed calendar of events, the cultural hotspots of Birmingham, Alabama, tell not just the story of the city… but the whole USA
Visiting Birmingham’s cultural wonders offers a portal into the forces that shaped the city and its society. But don’t stop there. Its many events, including music festivals and food-first happenings, also provide a great way to meet locals and hear insider tips on what else there is to see and do.
Dip into the past
A rust-red complex of pipes, chimneys and dome-topped towers can be seen at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, a legacy of the heavy industry that helped establish Birmingham and foster its growth. The site is the only 20th-century blast furnace in the USA to have been preserved as an industrial museum, and tours are a great way of understanding the regional and national significance of the city.
Birmingham was founded in 1871, during the Reconstruction era that followed America’s Civil War. A big part of the reason for its location was the resources found nearby. Pig iron, steel and coke were much in demand, and the raw materials of iron ore, coal and limestone were abundant in the surrounding Jones Valley. Red Mountain Park offers fine views of Birmingham’s skyline and also lets you explore the city’s industrial roots at Mine No 13, which was active from 1873 to 1933. Surrounding this are 25km of trails that let you soak in the area, as well as three impressive treehouses.
Elsewhere, Vulcan Park and Museum’s observation tower serves up citywide views too. It’s here that you’ll also find ‘Vulcan’, the world’s largest cast-iron statue, sculpted by Giuseppe Moretti for the 1904 World’s Fair. Several more statues are visible downtown in Kelly Ingram Park, one of four Birmingham locations on the US Civil Rights Trail. This formerly segregated city became a key location for the US Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, with notable moments including Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s iconic ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ and the tragic bombings of Bethel Baptist Church and 16th Street Baptist Church, which are both included on the trail. Their story is powerfully told in the city’s final trail site, the Smithsonian-affiliated Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
The here and now
The city’s walkable downtown area includes the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, which was designated by President Obama in 2017 to remember racial injustices. Other points of interest include the restored AG Gaston Motel, where Civil Rights-related activities were coordinated in the 1960s. Strolling the Birmingham Mural Trail offers a way to explore the city from a whole other angle. Spanning from the 150m-long ‘Rainbow Wall’ to Erica Chisholm’s ‘People Can Fly’, it also takes in the colourful Theater District Mural.
Birmingham boasts plenty of live venues, including the vast BJCC Concert Hall, which hosts touring Broadway productions; the Lyric Theatre, a restored Vaudeville venue; and the ornate Alabama Theatre. The latter was built in 1927 to show silent movies; it now hosts everything from comedy shows to ballet. Meanwhile, the Carver Performing Arts Center is now home to the newly renovated Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
Into visual art? The expansive Birmingham Museum of Art has a collection of more than 27,000 works and an outdoor sculpture garden. And be sure to pause to enjoy some hearty southern cuisine, or one of the many barbecued dishes that locals consider to be edible art forms. The pride taken in creating bespoke sauces and rubs is palpable. Dining here is as much about embracing local culinary heritage, whether you order from a food truck or one of the city’s finest restaurants.
Burn off your dinner with a stroll of the Magic City Loop in the popular Railroad Park before selecting a lively bar for a nightcap.
Dates for the diary
Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
Running for over 20 years, the annual 4th Avenue Jazz Festival is free to attend and held during August in the heart of Birmingham’s historic business district. In addition to live music on an outdoor stage, this family-friendly event features a kids’ zone, a health and wellness area, plus stalls displaying art. Take a moment to check out its food vendors too.
Birmingham FOOD+Culture Festival
This four-day event in the autumn brings together food and drink, chefs, storytellers and musicians to showcase Birmingham’s culinary heritage and culture. Mixologists and local farm producers are given the opportunity to shine, and more than 30 leading pitmasters will be present at 2024’s FOOD+Fire event at Sloss Furnaces, a celebration of barbecuing and tailgating (a social get-together usually held in a car park).
Steel City Smooth Jazz Festival
Held in Linn Park, in downtown Birmingham, this annual festival of smooth jazz and rhythm ’n’ blues has attracted music fans since 2014. Gospel music is celebrated on the closing Sunday. The Isley Brothers, Stephanie Mills and Chuck Loeb number among the musicians to have got attendees up and dancing in the past.
