Category Archives: Birmingham Landmarks

A Guide to Architectural Styles, Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, Exhibition, family history, George Ward, Highland Avenue, Historic Preservation, Neighborhoods, Southside, The Altamont

Period Costumes and Historic Houses

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.com
A woman speaking in a casual setting, wearing a black shirt with a design, with colorful decorations in the background.
A man with a beard and short hair speaks in front of a dark wooden background. Text on the screen identifies him as Bob McKenna, the owner of Clubhouse on Highland.
A woman with gray hair styled in waves, wearing a red cardigan over a black and white patterned blouse, sitting at a table. She appears engaged in conversation and is identified as Marjorie White, Director of the Birmingham Historical Society.
A man wearing glasses and an orange shirt sits outdoors, speaking. He appears engaged and expresses his role as the Executive Director of the Pro Bono Advisory Council.
Listen 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 In the photos below, Elizabeth is wearing a costume originally made for Mrs.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.

Two women engage in conversation at an event, one holding a card, with attendees and display boards in the background.
BHS Director Marjorie White
Three people dressed in vintage attire stand in front of a large white historic building with columns and a decorative facade.
Standing in front of the Mortimer Jordan House on Highland Avenue
Two women engaged in conversation at a round table in a light-filled room adorned with framed artwork.
BHS President Wayne Hester withTrustee Linda Nelson
Three people in vintage clothing, two women in white and beige dresses and a man in a vest, stand on the steps of a mansion with intricate door designs.
On the right is Elizabeth Sanfelippo as Mrs. Mortimer Jordan, the builder of the Jordan house
A crowded indoor event with attendees engaging in conversations and exploring displays featuring historical photos, showcasing community participation.
Heritage Hunt participants
Two women and a man dressed in vintage clothing, posing on the steps of a white house with decorative details.
Priscilla (one of event sponsors) & Adam LeBerte stand next to event co-chair, Elizabeth Sanfelippo
A gathering of people inside a historic house, enjoying refreshments and cookies, with a vibrant floral arrangement in the foreground.
Trustees Barbara Shores and Dan Weathers with refreshments at BHS offices
Three women seated and standing at a table displaying various historical books and materials related to the Highland Park neighborhood.
BHS Trustees Katie Tipton, Gerry Waters, and VP Carol Slaughter
All 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!

A happy family consisting of a man holding a young child and a woman beside him, all smiling and posing for a photo. The background shows a room with displays and people.
Co-chair Annie Chester Leardine and her family
A woman wearing a red hat and a black and red outfit stands next to a man in a green shirt. They are posing in front of a display with drawings of architectural styles, including 'Queen Anne' and 'American Four-Square'.
An exhibit of architectural styles was displayed at BHS offices (behind Joseph Bostany and Sheila Chaffin)
A person standing near an exhibit displaying architectural drawings titled 'Architectural Styles of Birmingham Homes' on a white board.
Birmingham Homes: A Guide to Architectural Styles was the scavenger hunt prize, displayed here
A group of people browsing a photo exhibition featuring black and white images displayed on a large panel, with one person studying the photos closely and another standing with a clipboard.
Exhibition of houses in Highland Park as they looked at the turn of the century was displayed at BHS offices on Highland Avenue
All photos by Jacob delaRosa
A woman in a vintage cream dress and large hat holds a parasol, standing in a charming garden setting with guests mingling and various plants around.
Group of people gathered in a lush garden area, discussing amidst various plants and greenery, with a large tree and decorative statues nearby.
A lively outdoor setting with people dining at tables under colorful string lights, while musicians perform in the background. The atmosphere is festive and vibrant.
A man playing the trumpet outside a building, with a smartphone set up nearby and a sign that reads 'HEAR OUT'.
A female musician with glasses and a denim jacket sings into a microphone while seated next to a male guitarist playing an acoustic guitar. They are performing outside a house adorned with pumpkins and greenery.
A woman singing into a microphone while a man plays guitar under a white canopy at an outdoor event, surrounded by greenery.
A Guide to Architectural Styles, Annual Gathering, Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, BOOK, Exhibition, Highland Avenue, Historic Preservation, Neighborhoods, Open house, Southside

Highland Park Open House

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!

Historical postcard view of Highland Avenue in Birmingham, Alabama in 1910, featuring Rhodes Park and various houses labeled by name.
Event flyer for the Birmingham Historical Society, announcing 'It's Nice to Have You in Highland Park' with details about open houses and tours of historical homes.

4th Avenue Business District, Architecture, Birmingham Civil Rights, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, civil rights, Colored Masonic Temple, Historic Preservation

What is Robert R. Taylor’s Birmingham Connection?

New interest in the preservation of the historic Prince Hall Masonic Temple brings the importance of Robert R. Taylor‘s contribution to Birmingham to the forefront. As the first accredited African American architect, together with his partner Louis H. Persley, he brought planning concepts he adopted as the first black MIT graduate to the campus at Tuskegee Institute.

  • 1st accredited African American Architect
  • 1st African American enrolled at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Established 1st black architectural firm in the nation, Taylor & Persley
  • Great Grandfather of Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to former president Barack Obama
  • Architect of Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Primary architect at Tuskegee Institute
  • His likeness is on a U.S. postage stamp
  • His father was a freed slave
  • Developed & planned the industrial curriculum at Tuskegee Institute with Booker T. Washington

But his importance to Birmingham is in the historic, 100 year old Prince Hall Masonic Temple, designed by Taylor & Persley. While it is currently in disrepair, a recent dialogue between national preservation leaders Brent Leggs and Irvin Henderson is starting the process toward protecting the building from further deterioration by raising support, and advocating to include it as part of the Civil Rights National Monument fundraising.

The building opened in 1924, and with an auditorium that could accommodate 2000, it often featured Duke Ellington’s orchestra and Count Basie’s big bands, along with dances, meetings, and special events. The offices of notable black businesses were located in the upper floors. The cost of construction was funded entirely with contributions.

Historic Prince Hall Masonic Temple, a six-story building designed by architect Robert R. Taylor, showcasing classical architectural elements and large windows, located in Birmingham, Alabama.
View of the Colored Masonic Temple by Nathan Watson for Bham Now
Interior view of the historic Prince Hall Masonic Temple, showcasing a large, empty auditorium with blue walls, large windows, and a stage at the far end. The space is in disrepair, with peeling paint and a dusty floor.
Interior of a dilapidated room with peeling blue paint and exposed fixtures, highlighting the disrepair of the historic Prince Hall Masonic Temple.
Photos from Abandoned Alabama
Interior view of the historic Prince Hall Masonic Temple, featuring blue walls, ornate architectural details, and signs of wear and neglect.

See also a video of the interior here

Kweisi Daniels, Ph.D, School of Architecture and Construction Science at Tuskegee University, emphasized that every historic building tells a story. The Masonic Temple stands as a “towering reminder of black ingenuity, entrpreneurship, and civic pride“, as he further states,

“There’s something profound about standing in a space designed by the first African American architects. you’re not just preserving structures, you’re preserving legacies.”

At last month’s summit meeting, Leggs and Henderson left the audience with a challenge.

“We are stewards of this history, not just spectators,” said Henderson. “And we must work hand in hand with developers, preservationists, city officials, and, most importantly, community members to preserve the past in a way that empowers our future.”

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, Historic Preservation

Protecting Sloss Furnaces

The National Historic Landmarks Program protects our American cultural heritage by bringing attention to worthy landmarks and guiding the process to nominate them. In Birmingham, there are currently only 3 listed landmarks: 16th Street Baptist Church, Sloss Furnaces, and Bethel Baptist Church as well as the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (which includes multiple sites).

There are over 2,600 National Landmarks in the U.S. today including buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts. To be considered, the landmark must be nationally important and contributing to an understanding of our nation’s heritage. Sloss Furnaces is a monument to our nation’s industrial heritage and was considered to have “perhaps the greatest potential of any area in the country for developing a comprehensive museum to the industry.”

Sloss Furnaces was saved from demolition by the efforts of the Birmingham Regional Planning Commission, who brought the landmark to the attention of the National Park Service. Thanks to Bham Now for highlighting this important process!

Interior view of an industrial facility featuring large metal structures, a conveyor system, and rusted components under a clear blue sky.
Jordyn Davis/Bham Now

While they are not on the National Parks Historic Landmarks list, there are many other historic properties worth noting in Birmingham listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bhamwiki lists them HERE.  

And although the National Register of Historic Landmarks and the National Register of Historic Places are both administered by the National Park Service, the landmarks represent places of exceptional national significance.

Certainly, Sloss Furnaces is worthy of this special recognition!

A Guide to Architectural Styles, Annual Gathering, Annual meeting, Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, BOOK, Historic Preservation

In Appreciation to Bham Now – Birmingham’s Modern Media

Just a taste of some of Birmingham’s fine historic architecture that will also be featured in the Historical Society’s upcoming guide to Birmingham to be released in February 2026 at the annual meeting (free and open to the public). Thank you Bham Now for sharing the wonderful photography in this quick reel below.

Facade of the Massey Building in Birmingham, AL, featuring ornate architectural details and a grand entrance.

#City Federal Building #Massey Building #John Hand Building #McAdory Building

Annual meeting, Architecture, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, City of Birmingham

Birmingham’s Architectural Evolution

In the July issue of Birmingham Lifestyle Magazine celebrating exploration, Birmingham natives are reminded that there is much to explore in their own hometown. The monthly magazine “is a community-focused magazine that aims to connect the residents to the people, places and things that make our city special…highlighting the most positive aspects of living here.” BHS is delighted that they often choose to include Birmingham’s history as well.

Birmingham Historical Society will soon release a guidebook with not only visitor landmarks, but also the history behind each one, and the significant forces that led to their establishment. To be titled ‘Birmingham by the Book”, it’s scheduled to be released on February 23, 2026 at the annual meeting, open to the public, at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Stay tuned for more information.

A newspaper article featuring Birmingham's architectural history, showcasing buildings like the Floyette Building and Zinsser Building, with a focus on the city's industrial past.
A tall historic building with a decorative top under a blue sky, featuring a promotional text for a new guidebook titled 'Birmingham by the Book'.

Birmingham Landmarks, family history, Historic Preservation, Oak Hill Cemetery

Memorial Day and The Tradition of Graveside Flowers

As we remember the courageous veterans who served our country, graveside flowers have become one important token of our respect and gratitude. Beginning on May 30, 1868, the first flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Soon, Memorial Day also became known as Decoration Day as Americans began the tradition of gathering every May to tend to the grave sites and honor those who died serving the country during the Civil War.

A veteran in a yellow jacket kneels at a grave adorned with flowers and an American flag, paying tribute to the deceased during a memorial event.

After World War I, the tradition evolved to commemorate ALL those who died in wars. Poppies in particular became a symbol of respect, gratitude, and remembrance, with the vibrant red color representing the blood that was shed.

If you grew up in the South, or have family members buried in the South, you may have attended Decoration Day. May has become a month for not only commemorating our veterans and their families, but also for remembering our own family members who have died. By gathering and placing flowers at grave sites, telling stories, and making photographs, memories are preserved in order to be passed on to the youngest family members.

Two individuals tending to graves in a cemetery, placing flowers around headstones under a green canopy of trees.

The safekeeping of many of these older cemeteries has become increasingly important as landscape development converts old farms and homesteads. The Alabama Historical Commission encourages documentation of these sites, and has created the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register, the only official listing of historic cemeteries. Many of these cemeteries have no official owners or caretakers. So it has become the responsibility of family members and volunteers to record and maintain these sacred places.

View of a cemetery with headstones in the foreground and a city skyline in the background, showcasing the contrast between the historic site and urban landscape.

Today is a day of Remembrance, of those who served, and of those we’ve loved. Let’s not forget them.