Holiday season has begun! For the friends who have everything, give the gift of membership, discounted through December to $40! Membership includes the popular Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City. Great gifts for out of towners, or stocking stuffers for locals. Help us continue to tell the story of our community.
Help us celebrate the publication of Birmingham Rebound: Fifty Important Books About Our City, 1994-2026 by Coke S. Matthews III.
Free and Open to the Public
Sunday, November 8th, 4-6PM
Birmingham Historical Society Headquarters
2827 Highland Avenue
In 1993, Patrick Cather published a book entitled Birmingham Bound: Opinionated and Often Irreverent Essays of the Fifty Most important Books About Alabama’s Largest City.
Coke Matthews has carefully reviewed and refreshed this list, presenting a curated selection of his 50 titles that explore the rich history of Birmingham, published by Birmingham Historical Society.
Many of the included authors will be on hand to sign these books, and 2026 members can pick up their membership copy. This list is a must have for avid readers, Birmingham historians, and anyone simply curious about Birmingham. Please join Birmingham Historical Society members and the authors who write about our city’s history on Sunday, November 8th, 4-6PM.
Telling ghost stories and recounting folklore were Kathryn Windham Tucker‘s special super power. A native of Selma, Alabama, she became well-known throughout the nation and Canada before her death at the age of 93 in 2011.
Birmingham Historical Society was privileged to publish her story of The Ghost in the Sloss Furnaces in 1997. Although we are no longer able to hear the story in her voice, the retelling of the tale seems entirely appropriate every Halloween. For the complete story, the book is available HERE.
Theophilus Calvin Jowers was one of many rural laborers who left farming to tie their futures to Birmingham’s early industrial promise. He married Sarah Latham in 1870, and likely worked in The Cahaba Iron Works (now located in the Cherokee Bend area of Mountain Brook) and then Eureka Mining and Transportation Company at the Oxmoor furnaces. He and his bride watched as Birmingham grew from railroad section housing to the biggest city in the South.
As a trained ironworker, Theophilus was eventually offered the job of assistant foundryman at the Alice Furnace No. One on 1st Avenue North and 14th Street, the first furnace to be built within the city limits of Birmingham. He subsequently moved his wife and five children to Birmingham in 1887.
On September 10th, 1887, only 2 months later, Theophilus fell into Alice Furnace and burned to death. The legend in the Jowers family is that only his heart could be retrieved. Afterward, it was said that he continued to walk the furnace, making sure everything was ok. He became a ghostly prototype for the thousands of miners who looked forward to his ‘visits’.
Alice furnace was dismantled in 1905, so Theophilus moved in 1927 to the only remaining furnace, Sloss on 1st Avenue, where his son John Jowers saw him working alongside him. Sloss Furnaces closed in1970 but it’s rumored that Theophilus continues to work there. Perhaps you’ll see him this Halloween!
Birmingham grew “like magic” for a variety of reasons:
All these elements played a role in its architectural journey and shaped how the city has developed. From its beginnings filled with warehouses and factories after it was incorporated in 1871, Birmingham has transformed into a city with historic homes, churches, and a range of contemporary architecture that we see today. Each era has left behind architectural treasures that give us a glimpse into Birmingham’s growth.
Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City is a compilation detailing many of Birmingham’s historic sites. It explores their architectural importance and how they contributed to the city’s growth. This book includes maps and recommendations for walking and driving tours, perfect for understanding its journey to becoming an industrial hub.
Iron and Steel Industry Influence:
The iron and steel industries drove Birmingham’s early growth, leaving a mark on its architecture. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many sturdy industrial buildings – like warehouses, factories, and mills – sprang up around the city. Sloss Furnaces stands as a monument to the city’s industrial heritage. Another popular spot is Pepper Place, once home to the Martin Biscuit Company, which is now full of retail shops, businesses, and hosts special events while still showcasing its rich industrial past.
Boomtown Era Structures:
As the 20th century rolled in, Birmingham saw a boom that led to the construction of impressive public buildings, commercial spaces, and new neighborhoods. We can see this reflected in iconic sites like the Alabama Theater, which has become a cultural hub, the historic Tutwiler Hotel, and the striking City Federal and Florentine Buildings that highlight the city’s ambition.
Art Deco Influence:
The Art Deco style made a splash in Birmingham during the 1920s and 1930s, with numerous buildings showcasing bold geometric shapes and vibrant designs. The Alabama Power Building and the McWane Science Center are perfect examples of this eye-catching style. The City Federal Building, Thomas Jefferson Hotel, Alabama Theatre, and Lyric Theatre all embrace the Art Deco aesthetic.
Historic Neighborhoods:
Birmingham boasts several historic neighborhoods, each with unique charm. From the elegant Victorian homes in Highland Park to the Craftsman bungalows in Forest Park, these areas reflect the city’s diverse residential architectural heritage. .
Historic Churches:
The city’s history shines through its historic churches, which have been vital to Birmingham’s cultural fabric. First Presbyterian is the oldest church, founded in 1872. The original church building at 6th Avenue and 22nd Street North, constructed in 1881, served the community until a new, beautiful sanctuary was built in 1906 that combined Romanesque and Gothic Revival styles.
Modern and Contemporary Architecture:
In recent years, Birmingham has embraced modern and contemporary architecture, with new buildings and redevelopment projects reshaping the city’s landscape. The expansion of the Birmingham Museum of Art and the creation of Railroad Park are prime examples of contemporary designs. These projects enhance public spaces, encourage community interaction, and continue the legacy of Birmingham’s past.
Did you know that a FREE self-guided downtown architectural tour is available! Download and print the 64 page pdf file and use it in conjunction with our newest publication, Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City, and this map below. Clicking on the icons on the map provides additional information about each building as well as the page number where it is referenced in the guide book.
This Third Edition of the Downtown Discovery Tour was created in honour of Patricia Hough Camp & Marjorie Lee White and was published with the financial support of:
The Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust, Alabama Power Foundation
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
City of Birmingham, Alabama Historical Commission and
Birmingham Realty Company, the real estate firm that founded
our city in 1871, in honor of its 125th Anniversary
Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City highlights the wide range of architectural styles that define the city’s neighborhoods. Some styles are unique to a single area, some respond directly to the local terrain, some grew out of distinct forms of company housing, and others—especially in more prosperous districts—showcase an eclectic mix of architectural influences.
In Homewood, the Hollywood neighborhood reflects the mission-style architecture inspired by the popularity of Hollywood, California in the 1920s. Roebuck Springs makes distinctive use of local fieldstone from a nearby quarry, incorporating it into retaining walls along roads and driveways, entrance gates, and the foundations and siding of residences—features that set this district apart. Early Norwood, home to many prosperous residents, developed with a rich variety of bungalow, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, and Tudor Revival houses set on generous lots.
Workers’ residences in Thomas and Pratt City were typically shotgun houses interspersed with modest Victorian cottages, sometimes accented with simple decorative details. In Fairfield, company housing usually consisted of single-family cottages with three to eight rooms and landscaped front and back yards. Crestwood North and South, among Birmingham’s first post–World War II subdivisions, were dominated by ranch and minimal traditional style homes, reflecting mid-twentieth-century suburban trends.
Topography often shaped the design of driveways and streetscapes. In 1909, Ensley Highlands featured more than 100 homes situated high along a ridge, taking advantage of elevated views, while Irondale, platted in 1887, was laid out in a linear pattern parallel to the railroad tracks.
Arlington House, one of Birmingham’s oldest surviving residences, illustrates how a single property can evolve over time. Built in the 1840s by the Mudd family in the Greek Revival style, it originally stood at the center of plantation farmlands that were sold after the Civil War for residential development. The Munger family purchased the property in 1902 and subdivided the remaining land. Although the house itself remains, it now serves as a museum and is open to the public.
Want to identify home styles? Check out A Guide to Architectural Styles Featuring Birmingham Homes!
This promises to be a lively afternoon as Alabama historian and folklorist Joyce Cauthen brings the story of her favorite fiddler, Tom Freeman, to Birmingham Historical Society on Sunday, October 4th, from 3–5 p.m. This charming, self-educated fiddler used his talent to evade law enforcement, to sell moonshine, and to play for community gatherings and political rallies.
Sunday, October 4th, 3-5 p.m.
Birmingham Historical Society
2827 Highland Avenue
Birmingham, AL 35205
Free and Open to the Public
Freeman was born in rural Cullman County in 1883. He taught himself on a homemade fiddle at the age of 9, and from then on it was his constant companion. He later lived and played music in Bug Tussle and Cold Springs. His descendants, who still live in Bug Tussle, preserved his handwritten—and sometimes difficult to read—manuscripts recounting his colorful life, from his time in prison and his moonshine adventures, to his grandfather’s service in the Civil War. Joyce Cauthen transcribed these manuscripts from the originals. They are now in the collection of Southern Music Research Center.
The collection documenting his music and life was developed in collaboration with author Joyce Cauthen as a supplement to her book The Ballad of Fiddling Tom Freeman: Music, Moonshine, and Murder in Bug Tussle, Alabama, published June 2026 by the University of Alabama Press. In this book, Joyce Cauthen brings to life his stories, his community, and his music. Nine home audio recordings are available at the Southern Music Research Center.
In the days before digital news, the comic pages were a favorite fixture of the newspaper by kids and adults alike. The Birmingham Historical Society used its popularity to promote early leaders of the city in quick profiles published every Saturday from February 1991 to April 1992.
The series, entitled True Tales, highlighted the accomplishments of the people who contributed much to the early development of Birmingham. Its 128 pages tell the stories of industrialists, educators, church leaders, activists, settlers, developers, architects, entertainers, philanthropists and more! And for a definitive current guide to Birmingham and its history, check out Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City.
Join our Highland Park Historical Scavenger Hunt Sunday, October 18th from 3-5 and you might even win a copy of True Tales!
It’s nice to have you in Birmingham! But want to learn more about it? This comprehensive guide will tell you everything you ever wanted to know! Available on Amazon by clicking image below.
#birminghambythebook #birminghamhistoricalsociety
Warren Manning and Jemison & Co. designed and developed Mountain Brook Estates from 1926 – 1929. (pgs. 114-115 of Birmingham by the Book) The main avenue in the newly developed Mountain Brook Estates was Mountain Brook Parkway, which parallels Jemison Park, designed as a linear parkway in the floodplain of Shades Creek.
The Tutwiler-McDonald Estate was built on the parkway as a replica of George Washington’s Mt. Vernon to showcase standards for Jemison & Co.’s new subdivision. The Old Mill facing the estate, was designed in 1927 as a promotional landmark for the new community, and was never a functioning mill. Other improvements included stone gates, bridges, bridle trails, and Mountain Brook Village, intended to mimic an English countryside village.
