Use this guide and the map below to plan your visit to Birmingham. Each location includes the matching page number from Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City, so you can easily read more about it.
Using the map: Tap or click the white menu icon in the upper-left corner of the map (legend button), immediately to the left of the blue B to chose a category, then select any map marker to see the site name, photographs, information, and its page number in the book.
On a phone or tablet: You can move around the map and zoom in to explore different areas of Birmingham. Use the map’s legend button to switch between categories. Choose a category before expanding the map in the upper right hand corner.
When you click or tap a pin on the map, a little popup will appear with the site’s name and the matching page number from the book, so you can easily find it.
Members of Birmingham’s Heritage Society receive all the benefits of membership in addition to an invitation to an annual gathering in one of Birmingham’s finest historic homes. It’s Birmingham Historical Society’s most popular event, and also its biggest fundraiser of the year. Spoiler alert! There are two featured homes in Forest Park this month. Interested? Join the Heritage Society!
Members are mailed a brochure with the history of the home, historic photographs, and information about the development of the area. Two of the homes featured in the past appear below. It’s a great way to learn about founding families of Birmingham and tour the estates that they created.
Heritage Society members are acknowledged in the annual report, AND receive an invitation to the annual Heritage Society gathering in an historic home. Heritage Society memberships are $500.
All Society Members receive newsletters, invitations to Society events, and the annual publication that is mailed if not picked up at the publication celebration. Annual memberships begin at $50. All memberships are for individuals or couples. Membership operates on the calendar year, January 1 to December 31.
The oldest homes in Birmingham tell the story of prosperous early industrialists and real estate developers, the struggles of the working classes, architectural trends, and the civil rights era.
The Smithfield/Dynamite hill homes of the civil rights era are described on pg. 90 of Birmingham by the Book.
Some of the most expensive homes were built on 30 acres in Glen Iris Park (pgs 102-103) prior to 1920 and along Highland Avenue in Southside.
More modest homes were in the Five Points South area and along Cullom Street, built in the 1890s.
In the late 1880s, Thomas was a company town with rented housing for those who needed to live close to the iron producing furnaces. By 1912, 550 workers lived in this community.
Pioneering early planters who became prominent citizens of Birmingham included Isaac Sadler, Thomas McAdory, and Thomas Owen who built flourishing plantations from 1820s to early 1900s. (pg. 26 of Birmingham by the Book)
Other significant early neighborhoods included :
Anderson Place, Milner Heights, Forest Park and Mountain Terrace. (pgs. 104-109).
The Hollywood homes in Homewood were designed in 1924, influenced by Hollywood, California, and including some of Birmingham’s first mission style architecture.
Roebuck Springs was contoured around knolls, and boasted an English Garden aesthetic as well as the first designed 18-hole golf course and country club grounds. (pg. 98 of Birmingham by the Book).
See more neighborhood history as well as over the mountain areas, all divided by region in Birmingham by the Book. Some early examples are included below.
W.P.G. Harding House, Glen IrisWorker House, East ThomasWorker House, East ThomasT.O. Smith House, Roebuck SpringsSchwab House, Highland Avenue AreaSadler House, McCalla, 1827Robley Munger House, Arlington ParkRobert Jemison House, Glen IrisParker Bown House, SmithfieldOwen House, Bessemer, 1833Mission Style House, HomewoodMcAdory House, Bessemer, 1840Mary M Means House, Dynamite Hill, SmithfieldLuffman House, Glen IrisLoveman House, SouthsideJordan House, Highland AvenueJohn Drew House, Dynamite Hill, SmithfieldJ. Cary Thompson House, Five Points SouthHollywood House, HomewoodH.K. Milner House, Milner CrescentHayes Davis House, East ThomasHassinger House, Highland AvenueForest Park HouseForest Park HouseEnsley HousesCullom Street Houses, SouthsideCullom Street House, SouthsideCullom Street House, SouthsideCullom Street Houses, SouthsideBrown and A.G. Gaston House, Smithfield
The Birmingham suburb known as Woodlawn was settled around 1815, when a street currently called Georgia Road, was still part of Mississippi territory. The town of Rockville was formed in 1832 and in 1838 pioneer Obadiah Wood acquired 400 acres on Georgia Road. Three generations of the Wood family would continue to support growth of the area by running a general store, sawmill, and post office, and by donating land for churches, a school, and homeplaces for former slaves. So in 1886, it was renamed Woodlawn in honor of the family’s contributions. The town was incorporated in 1891, and annexed into the City of Birmingham in 1910.
The former city hall, high school, library, and fire station are still standing and in use today.
City Hall, 1908Wood Family Cemetery, 1824Masonic Building, 1915Woodlawn HighlandsWoodlawn HighlandsGlenn Messer House, 1898-1995 who taught Charles LindberghWoodlawn HighlandsWoodlawn HighlandsWoodlawn Highlands
Homes for professionals, merchants, and managers included Victorian, Queen Anne, Craftsman, and Tudor Cottages and bungalows. See pgs 94-95 in Birmingham by the Book for more information and a map.
Ever thought about what historic organizations do and how they do it? What’s the organizational hierarchy?
Federal Agencies
Non Profit Organizations
State Organizations
Local Historical Organizations
Curious to learn more about a historic property? Living in a historic district, maybe? Let’s start with the National Register and answer those questions!
Federal Agencies & Non Profits
The National Register is a federal agency1 supported by tax dollars that promotes the restoration of significant historic properties. It maintains the official list of historic places in the United States worthy of preservation and is managed by the National Park Service.
It is NOT related to the National Trust for Historic Preservation which is a non-profit organization2 privately supported by their membership which advocates for historic properties. However, they do not manage nor approve register listings.
State
Properties included on the National Register must first be nominated or approved by state organizations3 and are subject to state laws, which in Alabama is the Alabama Historical Commission. Generally, nominated properties are at least 50 years old unless they are exceptionally important.
Birmingham Historical Society is among the local historical organizations4 which take great pride in their cities, researching their surroundings to educate and make recommendations about significant historic properties and people. It is often involved in the nomination process of historic properties and districts. Available publications document their research since their start in 1942.
Since that time, we’ve enjoyed exploring our new home in more depth. Our Highland Avenue neighbor, Randy Merritt, has been documenting the remaining historic homes on Highland Avenue as well as collecting archival photos of those that have been demolished.
The assortment tells the story of Birmingham’s pioneering residents whose strong belief propelled the city’s growth. It’s a tale of architectural innovation, economic power, social norms, financial successes, and the complex local politics of that time.
So, whether intrigued by the people, the location, the event, or by the lessons learned, history at all levels creates a compelling story worth preserving and telling. Grateful for the organizations that continue to tell those stories! One can’t help but appreciate the efforts of all of the organizations dedicated to upholding and conveying this history.
Below shows some of the process in registering the Highland Avenue Historic District. The Birmingham Historical Society offices are on the ground floor retail space in what was originally the Altamont Apartment Building on lot #4 on diagram below.
In the early 1970’s, because Alabama’s strict 1901 Constitution severely limited municipal power, Birmingham could not simply pass a city ordinance to enforce historic preservation or restrict property modifications. A bill, sponsored locally by State Senator Richard Dominick and pushed through the House under Speaker Jimmy Clark, Act No. 517 legally empowered the City of Birmingham to establish its own regulatory bodies, leading to the formation of the Birmingham Historical Commission and its Architectural Review/Design Review frameworks.
The 1973 legislative authority was specifically engineered to save and legally protect Birmingham’s rapidly disappearing downtown architectural footprint. (Birmingham’s Terminal Station was demolished in 1969.) The very first project to utilize these new legal and financial protections was:
The Morris Avenue Historic District: This was the fundamental “pilot project” for the 1973 legislation. Morris Avenue was Birmingham’s original 19th-century commercial wholesaling district, filled with cobblestone streets and heavy brick warehouses. Under the new legal framework, the city successfully blocked demolition and forced exterior design reviews, transforming it into the city’s first revitalized historic office and entertainment district.
It’s the very birthplace of Birmingham’s historic preservation movement and serves as an example of how state legislation, local activist energy, and real estate development collided in the early 1970s. By the late 1960s, Morris Avenue sat largely vacant and decaying. Because it was right next to the downtown railroad tracks, there was immense pressure to clear the old masonry warehouses for modern industrial use, surface parking, or highway infrastructure.
When local preservationists stepped in to save the iconic cobblestone street and structures, they realized the city had no legal authority to stop property owners from tearing them down. Act 517 was custom-tailored to fix this exact crisis. It gave the city the police power to freeze demolitions and legally mandate that any changes to building exteriors pass a design review board.
The newly formed Jefferson County Historical Commission hurried to establish the district boundaries and in 1973, preservationists successfully placed the Morris Avenue–First Avenue North Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. This was the critical first step required to unlock the federal tax incentives and municipal protections granted under the new state framework.
Bob Moody was the visionary designer and artist who created the original conceptual blueprint and visual pitch that saved Morris Avenue from demolition. Moody provided the aesthetic inspiration that convinced city leaders, property owners, and investors that the decaying warehouse district was worth saving.
His involvement can be broken down into three critical phases:
1. The “Underground Atlanta” Concept (Late 1960s)
In the late 1960s, Morris Avenue was widely viewed as an eyesore destined to be razed for surface parking lots. Moody—a multi-talented designer with a background in architecture who had previously worked for NASA—saw things differently. Inspired by historic entertainment revivals like Gaslight Square in St. Louis and Underground Atlanta, Moody envisioned transforming the old warehouses into a bustling district of restaurants, nightclubs, and shops.
2. The Power of Watercolor Renderings
Because city leaders and investors could not visualize how grimy, abandoned industrial structures could become a premier destination, Moody used his extraordinary skill as a watercolorist. He sketched and painted vivid architectural renderings of a reimagined Morris Avenue.
The Visual Pitch: His paintings featured gas lantern streetlights, active storefronts, and outdoor patrons walking along the avenue’s historic paving blocks.
The Impact: Moody openly stated that if it wasn’t for those watercolor renderings to sway public opinion and secure backing from civic groups like Operation New Birmingham, the entire area would have been flattened into a giant parking lot.
3. Executing the Restorations (1974 and Beyond)
After the 1973 legislative framework was passed, Moody founded his own firm, Moody & Associates, in 1974. He transitioned from conceptual visionary to hands-on preservationist. Over the next several decades, his firm provided the interior design and architectural plans for more than 40 historic restoration and “Cinderella stories” adaptive reuse projects throughout downtown Birmingham, working alongside real estate partner John Lauriello.
Mercantile on Morris July 2026, as tomorrow’s history is made today
Today, many of the buildings are occupied by restaurants and offices. One of the more ambitious projects is The Mercantile on Morris Building. Developed by Orchestra Partners, it’s a mixed use project with a plaza linking Morris Avenue to 1st Avenue North, containing 47 condominiums and 12,000 square feet of retail.
Morris Avenue conceptual promotion 1973
Morris Avenue conceptual promotion 1973
Fireworks from the Mercantile on Morris looking toward Vulcan July 2026! Here’s to preserving tomorrow’s history!
Celebrating 100 years of the historic Hollywood neighborhood is a tour this Sunday from 1 to 4 PM of four beautifully renovated Hollywood homes. The district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, and is one of the earliest planned communities in the State. Noteworthy for its abundance of Spanish Mission style homes, it mirrored a taste for Hollywood, California glamour, enjoying its greatest popularity from 1915 to 1931.
The Tudor revival style also became popular through 1940, and many examples of this architectural style are found in Hollywood as well. Their distinctive half-timbered exteriors, with exposed wooden framing filled with stucco or brick, create a picturesque and Old-World charm. Together, the two architectural styles create a unique and recognizable neighborhood full of historic and well-maintained homes and gardens.
This past weekend, neighborhood Highland Park residents, Annie Leardine and Elizabeth Sanfelippo as community liaisons and co-chairs, assembled various property owners willing to share their houses, and garnered the support of local realtors as sponsors. Along with Friends of Highland Park – the neighborhood 501c3, the group successfully created a walking tour and porch visits entitled “It’s Nice to have you in Highland Park“.
Don’t miss the two videos below by Jacob delaRosa! Click on images for links
Video produced by Jacob delaRosa. Check out more of his work at www.jacobdelarosa.com or reach out about collaborations or inquiries at jacob.delarosa.letschat@gmail.comListen to neighborhood advocates talk of their appreciation for Highland Park. Video produced by Jacob delaRosa.
Historical costumes from the period were encouraged and one of the event sponsors, Priscilla LeBerte and her husband Adam, were among those wearing period clothing. In the photos below, Elizabeth is wearing a costume originally made for Mrs. George Ward, but is representing Florence Jordan – the widow of Mortimer Jordan, who built the Jordan house after his death. This 2nd annual event with live music and refreshments highlighted the warmth and charm of this historic neighborhood while inviting guests to explore its architectural treasures.
BHS Director Marjorie WhiteStanding in front of the Mortimer Jordan House on Highland AvenueBHS President Wayne Hester withTrustee Linda NelsonOn the right is Elizabeth Sanfelippo as Mrs. Mortimer Jordan, the builder of the Jordan houseHeritage Hunt participantsPriscilla (one of event sponsors) & Adam LeBerte stand next to event co-chair, Elizabeth SanfelippoTrustees Barbara Shores and Dan Weathers with refreshments at BHS officesBHS Trustees Katie Tipton, Gerry Waters, and VP Carol SlaughterAll photos courtesy of Jacob delaRosa, http://www.jacobdelarosa.com
Developer Bob McKenna generously opened his doors to showcase the restoration work currently in progress at the historic Warner House, one of the soon to be restored “Three Sisters“. Additionally, tours were offered at the celebrated Brown House, known today as the Clubhouse on Highland, providing insight into the neighborhood’s rich heritage and architectural diversity.
The event saw an impressive turnout, with approximately 350 participants. Sixty-six individuals and groups enthusiastically completed their scavenger hunt known as Highland Heritage Hunts. Each of these participants was rewarded for their efforts with a copy of Birmingham Homes: A Guide to Architectural Styles, which serves as a resource for those interested in the historical and architectural significance of the houses in the area.
The success of this event would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of its organizers, as well as the enthusiastic participation of all those who turned out. Many thanks to everyone involved for making this such a memorable occasion!
Co-chair Annie Chester Leardine and her familyAn exhibit of architectural styles was displayed at BHS offices (behind Joseph Bostany and Sheila Chaffin)Birmingham Homes: A Guide to Architectural Styles was the scavenger hunt prize, displayed hereExhibition of houses in Highland Park as they looked at the turn of the century was displayed at BHS offices on Highland AvenueAll photos by Jacob delaRosa
Meet our Birmingham Historical Society Highland Park neighbors! Live music, refreshments, historical scavenger hunt! See you Sunday afternoon, October 19th, 3-5pm with after party at ROJO. Click image above for detailed information.
Start at Birmingham Historical Society offices (H on the map below) to pick up a Highland Heritage Hunt, a scavenger hunt in which you’ll search for hidden artifacts while visiting the participating homes. Turn your completed hunt back into BHS for the chance to win a prize!
BHS will also have a new exhibit on display of house types that parallels their book Birmingham Homes: A Guide to Architectural Styles. Tour this non-profit responsible for researching, publishing, and promoting the history and heritage of HP. You can also learn how to research a home’s or apartment’s history and how to get a Jefferson County marker or purchase one of their books on Birmingham, including It’s Nice to Live in Birmingham, a reprint of the 1963 classic that launched our city’s motto.
Mark your calendars for the Heritage Hunt and Open Houses featuring Porch and Garden Parties, a Birmingham Homes Exhibit, advice on how to get an historical marker, and opportunities to buy books about Birmingham. This popular 2nd annual event is lots of fun and a great opportunity to meet your Southside neighbors and tour some historic properties.
When: Sunday, October 19th, 3-5 PM
Where: Birmingham Historical Society, 2827 Highland Avenue South
Pay close attention to some of the architectural details in this neighborhood. Those completing the Heritage Hunt form distributed on Sunday at Birmingham Historical Society can claim a prize of the popular book, A Guide to Architectural Styles Featuring Birmingham Homes. Hope to see you Sunday!
