Category Archives: BOOK

A Guide to Architectural Styles, Architecture, Birmingham Civil Rights, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, civil rights, Dynamite Hill, family history, Farming, Highland Avenue, Housing, Neighborhoods, Smithfield, Southside

Historically Significant Architecture of Birmingham

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 Iris
Worker House, East Thomas
Worker House, East Thomas
T.O. Smith House, Roebuck Springs
Schwab House, Highland Avenue Area
Sadler House, McCalla, 1827
Robley Munger House, Arlington Park
Robert Jemison House, Glen Iris
Parker Bown House, Smithfield
Owen House, Bessemer, 1833
Mission Style House, Homewood
McAdory House, Bessemer, 1840
Mary M Means House, Dynamite Hill, Smithfield
Luffman House,
Glen Iris
Loveman House, Southside
Jordan House, Highland Avenue
John Drew House, Dynamite Hill, Smithfield
J. Cary Thompson House,
Five Points South
Hollywood House, Homewood
H.K. Milner House, Milner Crescent
Hayes Davis House, East Thomas
Hassinger House, Highland Avenue
Forest Park House
Forest Park House
Ensley Houses
Cullom Street Houses, Southside
Cullom Street House, Southside
Cullom Street House, Southside
Cullom Street Houses, Southside
Brown and A.G. Gaston House, Smithfield
Architecture, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, Neighborhoods

Woodlawn’s Origins: From Rockville to Railway Boomtown

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, 1908
Wood Family Cemetery, 1824
Masonic Building, 1915
Woodlawn Highlands
Woodlawn Highlands
Glenn Messer House, 1898-1995
who taught
Charles Lindbergh
Woodlawn Highlands
Woodlawn Highlands
Woodlawn 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.

Woodlawn High School, 1922
Birmingham Civil Rights, BOOK, Fred Shuttlesworth

Southern Museum of Flight: Plan a Birmingham Aviation Adventure

A favorite family activity at the Southern Museum of Flight is exploring a real aircraft that kids can climb into while discovering the history of aviation. The museum features more than 100 historic aircraft, along with interactive simulators and guided educational tours. It is one of the South’s largest aviation museums and is also home to the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame. (See pg. 99 of Birmingham by the Book for this and related activities.)

A popular spot for birthday parties, the museum also features a playground and picnic facilities, and the gift shop is filled with aviation-themed gifts, models, flight jackets, and other unique memorabilia.

In addition to the museum, aviation tech college classes are held on the Museum’s campus. Accepting students as early as their sophomore year of high school, Aviation College degree is a virtual guarantee of full employment upon graduation.

Occasional field trips include the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport, renamed in 2008 to honor Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. A striking 13’x 66’mural by Rico Gaston, was installed to honor his memory as well, with his portrait surrounded by colorful rays.

Rev Fred Shuttlesworth mural by Rico Gatson at the Birmingham Shuttlesworth Airport

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Alabama Theater, Birmingham Landmarks, BOOK, Carver Theater

Exploring Birmingham’s Jazz Roots and Grand Historic Theaters

Birmingham has a number of historic museums, theaters, and cultural venues to explore that are listed on page 10-11 of Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City. An excellent starting point is a visit to one of Birmingham’s three historic theaters.

Tuxedo Junction is a famous historic jazz intersection and neighborhood in the Ensley area of Birmingham, Alabama, that inspired the 1939 hit swing song by Erskine Hawkins. The Jazz Hall of Fame celebrates the great musicians of this era. The museum is now located downtown in the historic Carver Theater, which was originally opened in 1935 as a movie house. A refurbished performance hall hosts live performances as well as movies.

The Lyric and Alabama Theaters face each other on 3rd Avenue North in the City Center. The Lyric is the oldest theatre in Birmingham and was opened in 1914 as a vaudeville house. Following an $11 million restoration it has reopened as a 750 seat performing arts center. The Alabama Theater was built in 1927 by Paramount Studios as an Alabama showcase for Paramount films . It now hosts over 150 events per year and was beautifully restored in 1998.

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK

Birmingham by the Book: A Rich, Comprehensive Magic City Guide

From neighborhood histories and iconic venues to landmark sites, this guide traces Birmingham’s story from its beginnings before the Civil War to the city’s most memorable places and landscapes today. Drawing on 50 years of research, it offers a rich, comprehensive portrait of our Magic City—with something to captivate every reader.

Now available on Amazon! Just in time for fall holiday guests!

Birmingham Landmarks, BOOK, family history, Food History

Labor Day Barbeque at the Historic Golden Rule

One of the oldest barbecue joints in the USA still in operation is the Golden Rule in Irondale. Established in 1891 by the Williams family, it’s operated under multiple owners since then. But over 130 years, it’s expanded not only its menu, but its presence throughout Alabama and the South.

Nationwide shipping attests to the ongoing popularity of this historic location. See pg. 86 of Birmingham by the Book for other must-sees near this Irondale location!

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, BOOK, Publications

150 Sites to See in Birmingham: From Motorsports to History

New to Birmingham – or just visiting? Our Birmingham by the Book guide is an excellent source of activities for history buffs. But it also includes venues for those interested in architecture, sports, civil rights, iron ore, railroads, food, parks, or even motorcycles!

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum contains the world’s foremost collection of restored motorcycles, cars, and bicycles, along with an official U.S. Porsche driving school. The beautiful 880 acre park through rolling hills allows picnics on the grounds while watching world class racing. Named “World’s Largest Motorcycle Museum” by the Guinness World Record, it was built by George Barber and opened in 2003.

Any visit to Birmingham should include Barber Motorsports. For this and other great sites, check out the extensive Guide to the Magic City which includes over 150 sites in the Birmingham area and 50 years of Birmingham Historical Society research.

Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham Public Library, BOOK

Bierstadt in Birmingham!

This massive painting by Albert Bierstadt, entitled Looking Down Yosemite Valley measures over 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide and is a local favorite at The Birmingham Museum of Art. A gift of the Birmingham Public Library, Bierstadt completed the oil in 1865 as a hopeful vision reuniting the country after the Civil War, and it was displayed in Chicago until the Great Fire of 1871.

Following the 1871 fire, the masterpiece vanished for nearly 60 years. It resurfaced at an auction in 1929, where a railway engineer bought it for a mere $300 and brought it to Birmingham, eventually donating it to the Birmingham Public Library. It quietly hung in a library reading room for decades until 1991, when it was permanently transferred to the Birmingham Museum of Art, where it is celebrated as a national treasure.

Looking Down Yosemite Valley by Albert Bierstadt, photo by Art Meripol

The Birmingham Museum of Art was founded in 1851 annd now has a diverse collection of more than 27,000 paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and decorative arts. ( For information about this and other museums in Birmingham, please refer to Birmingham by the Book or this list on our website.)

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, Coal Mines, Railroads, Vulcan

Mineral Riches and Historic Mines in Birmingham

Birmingham emerged as the industrial capital of The South by 1900, and its growth was so fast, it was nicknamed The Magic City. For those curious about Birmingham’s resources, mines, and mineral lands, there are lots of sites to see (see pg. 11 of Birmingham by the Book for a list of 15 )! The historic Lone Pine Iron Mine opened around 1900 and can be viewed from The Vulcan Trail. It was a part of the Birmingham Mineral Railroad but the mine was closed shortly before WWI.

(photo above by Art Meripol 2025)

Tannehill Furnace (photo by Marjorie White)

During the Civil War, the Tannehill site expanded into three large stone cold blast furnaces producing up to 22 tons of pig iron daily for the Confederacy. The Union Cavalry under General James H. Wilson destroyed and burned the furnaces on March 31, 1865. But because it had successfully produced pig iron, the site is considered to be the birthplace of iron and steel making in the Birmingham District.

For more information, please refer to The Birmingham District: An Industrial History and Guide and Building Birmingham’s Industrial Base

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, BOOK, Food History, Highlands Bar & Grill, Restaurant History

Exploring Birmingham’s Historic Dining Scene

Birmingham has firmly established itself as a sought after town for foodies. Thanks to the talent and mentorship of Frank Stitt, (whose restaurant Highlands Bar & Grill won James Beard’s most outstanding restaurant in the country) Birmingham now has numerous white tablecloth dining experiences in addition to these old favorites below.

Irondale Cafe specializes in Southern comfort food
Dreamland Barbeque’s Southside location.

But The Bright Star in Bessemer, claims the title of Alabama’s oldest continuously operating restaurant. Established in 1907, the 300 seat restaurant is a James Beard “American Classic Winner”with down-home cooking, hand-painted murals, and a legendary star sign welcoming guests for over 100 years.

The Bright Start restaurant in 1915 (4th location)

For a list of over 25 historic eateries and their locations, check out Birmingham by the Book (pg. 11)!