Category Archives: Altamont

Altamont, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, BOOK, Book Sale, Book Signing, Dynamite Hill, Highland Avenue, Historic Preservation, Membership, Open house, The Altamont

Celebrating our New Home on Highland

After vacating 37 years at the Duncan House at Sloss Quarters, we celebrated the move to our new home at the historic Altamont Apartments on Highland Avenue this afternoon. Our well-attended Open House today featured book signings of this year’s publication, Birmingham’s Dynamite Hill, signed by Barbara Shores and Jeff Hunt ((with whom Martin Luther King stayed) as well as a history hunt, book sales, membership information, historical marker guidelines by Jefferson County Historical Commission historian, Linda Nelson, and light refreshments. Thank you to all who joined us!

Guests were also invited to tour the lobby of the historic Greenbriar at Altamont next door.

Photo credits: Louise McPhillips & Rebecca Moody

Altamont, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Book Sale, Highland Avenue, Historic Preservation, Open house, Southside, The Altamont

Open House

You’re invited to the official opening of our new location, 2827 Highland Avenue, on Birmingham’s Southside, in the historic Altamont Apartments, now called the Greenbriar at Altamont. Read more about it HERE!

FREE and open to the public

When: Sunday afternoon, November 13 from 2-4 P.M.

What: We will have punch and cookies and lots of books to sell, including a preview of the soon to be released Birmingham’s Dynamite Hill. (expected mid-November)

Where: The courtyard and historic lobby of The Altamont will also be open to the public at this time.

Altamont, Birmingham Historical Society, Red Mountain

Altamont – A Portion of Red Mountain and its Park

Long time residents of Birmingham know that the Altamont ridge has one of the best views in the city, a forested overlook perched 400 feet above Jones Valley.

But did you know that Boston architect, George H. Miller, originally created a plan for the Altamont ridge in 1911, specifically providing for both public and private forested views? In fact, the guiding principal, reiterated in an interview by City Forester Hugh Sloss in 1931, was that:

“Altamont Park was intended to remain a natural, forested green space, enhanced only by selective cleaning and pruning. It was conceived as a neighborhood park, whereas Altamont Road, one link in an imagined longer parkway, was meant for the enjoyment of all of Birmingham’s citizens and visitors. Furthermore, preserving as much vegetation as possible on the north face of Red Mountain allows the City of Birmingham to retain its most notable and defining natural feature.”

Read the entire history in Birmingham Historical Society’s latest publication, Altamont – A Portion of Red Mountain and Its Park. Or click image below to order a copy.