Featured this year are three FREE events, with a tour of Rickwood Field, a talk on Birmingham Mineral Railroad, and a Community Preservation Spotlight in Titusville. Mark your calendars for these upcoming events! For more information, please contact Birmingham’s Historic Preservation Manager: Hannah.Garmon@birminghamal.gov
Two-night “Winds of Change” tribute and BYJE Alumni Concert honor visionary trumpeter, educator, Broadway musician, and cultural catalyst Jothan McKinley Callins at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Friday, February 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM CST and
Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST
Led by trombonist, bandleader, and former BYJE member Calvin Sexton—a Birmingham native, New York City–based artist, educator, and South Arts Jazz Road awardee—the project gathers past BYJE musicians, Callins’ family, and a new generation of artists to honor a man whose work changed the sound—and the future—of young Black musicians in Birmingham
Friends and former students describe Callins as “unforgettable,” “a man we can call great,” and “the epitome of a jazz legend for the Magic City.” The project is part of a grant from South Arts Jazz Roads Residency Award, which Calvin Sexton is an Awardee for $40,000.
It’s often after the fact that the public regrets the demolition of an historic building. At this last lecture of Birmingham’s Historic Preservation Month, David Fleming discusses easements and how they can protect historic buildings.
The Alabama Historical Commission has prepared a worksheet for property owners HERE who are interested in safeguarding their private property and/or receiving appropriate tax incentives.
Generally, a building or site must possess historical, architectural, archaeological, or cultural significance to the state or its locale in order to qualify. However, if it’s contributing to an existing historic district, it may also qualify. Detailed maps HERE show historic districts in Birmingham.
The National Park Service provides more information about tax incentives HERE. But for more information or with questions for David Fleming, the lecture is at NOON at Sloss Furnace, West Room on Thursday, May 29th.
May is Historic Preservation Month, and Birmingham has a lot of events planned throughout the month to celebrate! Mark your calendars NOW so you won’t miss a thing!
More DETAILS here! Printable Calendar below
A series of Birmingham lectures as part of the National Historic Preservation Month includes one on “How to Conduct Historic Building Research and How to Obtain a Historical Marker” THIS TUESDAY AT NOON.
Presented by the City of Birmingham’s Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permits, hear directly from the city authorities what you need to know to comply to historic requirements.
The lecture will be in the Birmingham Public Library – Arrington Auditorium, 2100 Park Place. Learn how to use sources in the public library and the county courthouse to research historic homes and buildings…and how to get a historical marker to recognize them. Should be an interesting lecture! Please plan to attend.
Historic Preservation Education Lecture Series
Click here for a printable schedule of events for Historic Preservation Month.
For more information, contact Hannah Garmon, Historic Preservation Manager, at 205-254-2424or Hannah.Garmon@birminghamal.gov. You can also reach Karla Calvert, Urban Design Administrator, at 205-254-2479or Karla.Calvert@birminghamal.gov.
May is Birmingham’s Historic Preservation month, and the City of Birmingham will be hosting a series of events to showcase the economic and social benefits of historic preservation with walking tours and lectures. Please plan to attend! Select the image below to download a pdf file of events. Or download brochures below for more information on policies and federal incentives regarding Historic Districts.
