A group of women were inspired to provide medical care for the poor, leading them to build and operate Hillman Hospital, the city’s oldest hospital. It was opened in 1888 and has grown to be a part of Birmingham’s largest employer, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, or UAB.
As Alabama’s single largest employer, UAB currently employs more than 28,000 people, serves over 2 million, and occupies more than 100 city blocks. Attesting to its importance to our city, Birmingham by the Book devotes 15 pages (pgs. 60-75) to describing the buildings, the history, the architecture, the research, the medical center, and the arts, athletic, and residential centers in a concise, mapped, and heavily photographed format.
It also includes a nod to the facilities remaining from the earlier residential neighborhood dating to 1901, and notes the years each of the current buildings were constructed. For this and much, much more, check out Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City
For an in depth study of the medical school’s history, the book Order from Chaos, by Dr. Arnold Diethelm tells the story of his years as Chairman of UAB’s Department of Surgery from 1982 to 1999, as well as the first kidney transplant.
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.
The 44 miles of Village Creek make up 53% of Birmingham’s Special Flood Hazard area. The creek stretches across Birmingham metro area from Roebuck Springs in the east to Ensley in the west and played a major part in Birmingham’s industrial beginnings. The Freshwater Land Trust is now actively working to develop the area into a continuous recreational trail and greenway, while preserving local habitats. However, in the interim, repeated flooding over 50 years has resulted in more than 17 federal disasters.
The Birmingham Historical Society has been advocating for green space along this corridor since 1984 beginning with the BHS study of the floodplains in East Lake, East Birmingham, and Ensley for the US Army Corps of Engineers. (See an excerpt below.) During that study, it was discovered that the celebrated Olmsted Brothers (a NY landscape architecture firm well known for their design of Central Park) had presented a plan for Birmingham back in 1925 for continuous greenways along the creek. This plan was subsequently reprinted and publicized by the society.
Katie Britt, Alabama’s senator, has now secured $2.6 million for Village Creek floodplain restoration. This will provide a long-term solution, protect residents, particularly those in Ensley, improve infrastructure, and reduce flooding risks for motorists traveling through these areas. The federal/local partnership is an investment in local neighborhoods as well as quality of life with trailways for walkers, runners, and bikers throughout the city as illustrated by Phase I of the Ensley Greenway below. Thank you to all those involved and who continue to invest in Birmingham’s future!
Alabama Librarians and the Alabama Department of Archives and History outlines how to clean and preserve old books as well as five things you should NEVER do with old documents. Click on images to print them out.
Old books, newspapers, photos and letters.
York. England. 01.26.19. Genealogy – My Family History – Old family photographs dating from around 1890 up to about 1950. This period of time covers two world wars and massive changes to society. These old photographs document the period on a personal level in a time before the digital age and social media.
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!
With 188 acres of rolling pasture, come prepared to walk among 20 historically inspired buildings and beautiful gardens. Don’t forget water and a folding chair. Costumed historical interpreters will be wandering the grounds, and there will be featured music and food. Sweet Home 250 runs July 3 and July 4, 2026, from 11:00 am to 10:30 pm each day. Doors open at 11:00 am with programming starting at 11:30 am. Last admission is at 8:30 pm each day. Tickets are available HERE. See you next weekend!
For over 50 years, Marjorie White has been sharing her research and discoveries about her adopted city of Birmingham. Her story as told in Birmingham Lifestyle Magazine is one of dedication, curiosity, exploration, and documentation. She knows this city well, and shares her enthusiasm in her latest publication, Birmingham by the Book.
Currently available locally (and mailed) from Birmingham Historical Society offices on Highland Avenue, at Thank You Books in Crestwood, and Shoppe in Forest Park, and at Amazon.com. Use the QR code to buy via PayPal or click HERE
If you want to share Birmingham with out-of-towners, this is a comprehensive, well-illustrated, but easy to read overview. And locals may just find out something new about Birmingham! Check it out! And read more about Marjorie’s story below…
Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City is FREE to all new members! The heavily illustrated 8 x 10 guide is divided into chapters with photos, maps, and descriptions including:
MUST SEES
Sites to Explore
Before Birmingham
The City Center
Coal, Iron and Steel Communities
West End
East End
South Highlands
Red Mountain
Over the Mountain
Shades Mountain
A typical page is pictured below. Quickly access places to go and things to do with a particular emphasis on the history of the sites. Locals may discover a new appreciation for their city that they only thought they knew well. Tourists will find an easy-to-follow overview divided into regions with notable sites in each region. Use this guide so that you don’t miss important architectural or historical features. And JOIN US, as we continue to document Birmingham’s history and educate the public with annual publications per the words of Marjorie White, BHS Director, below.
Why is the nonprofit mission so critical and needed in the Birmingham community?
Nonprofits tread where others will not. Case in point: Fifty years ago, when I was first elected as an officer of the Birmingham Historical Society that I continue to serve as chairman of the board and director, the general understanding was that Birmingham had no history. (History happened before or during antebellum times and Birmingham was not even here then), and that the city had no built heritage to preserve. Over the intervening years, the Society has researched and published more than 70 books, drafted National Register of Historic Places and National Landmark nominations, conducted educational programs for adults and school groups and worked to create awareness and stewardship of the significant heritage of our post-bellum industrial city, greatly spearheading its conservation and preservation. This year, we look forward to releasing and sharing our definitive guide to Birmingham that once and for all dispels the notion that there is nothing to see or do in the Magic City.
Birmingham Historical Society is a privately funded membership organization. The Society benefits from the philanthropy of others: their donations of money, time and skills. As is true for similar groups across the United States, the Society has no full-time staff and operates with an exceptionally strong volunteer base. Many individuals have made decades long contributions.
We look forward to continuing their service, recruiting other volunteers, and to building our endowment to support future staffed positions, fulfilling our mission to research, publish. and educate our community about its history and heritage.
First the PROGRAM! Birmingham boosters Stewart Dansby and Tom Cosby had the audience enthusiastically participating in a “Birmingham IQ” quiz highlighting the many superlatives that make Birmingham a great place to live. Did you know…? WOW! The audience was impressed by stats and amenities that are often overlooked by Birmingham natives.
Birmingham Historical Society President Wayne Hester begins the annual meeting as the audience reviews multiple choice answers to the “Birmingham IQ” quiz by Tom Cosby and Stewart Dansby.
Stewart Dansby and Tom Cosby created a list of multiple choice answers to test Birmingham’s knowledge of their city.
Pictured left to right: Stewart Dansby, Maury Shevin, Jennifer Chandler (Vulcan Park & Museum), Graham Boettcher (Birmingham Museum of Art), and Tom Cosby. Maury Shevin was the winner of the Birmingham IQ test. Jennifer and Graham donated prizes along with prizes from Lyric Theater, Rickwood Field, and Birmingham Historical Society.
Next the BOOK!
Birmingham Historical Society members all received a copy of Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City, a definitive guide of over 50 years of research by Marjorie White about her adopted city. Tasked with directing the organization as a newcomer, one of her first goals was to create a guide and many years and over 70 publications later, this is the not-to-be-missed result. A book signing by Marjorie White followed the meeting.
Available locally at Thank You Books, Shoppe, Birmingham Museum of Art, and at Birmingham Historical Society.
After the quiz, Birmingham Historical Society VP, Rick Sprague, reported on the progress of the society since a survey produced a strategic plan that was published in 2020. He noted that ALL goals have been achieved and in some cases surpassed!
Followed by the CAKES! In recognition of the guide book’s history, all of the cakes entered used recipes that were over 50 years old with some interesting stories to accompany them.
Judges left to right: Christiana Roussel, Sonthe Burge, and Charbett Cauthen. BHS Trustee and cake contest organizer, Carolanne Roberts, chats with Christiana.
Thank you to all who participated and especially to all who attended!
What’s Your Birmingham IQ? with Birmingham boosters Tom Cosby and Stewart Dansby
Cosby and Dansby are former public relations and marketing officers of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and leaders in our city and in the saving and conserving of its landmarks, notably Vulcan, Rickwood Field, and the Lyric
And featuring Birmingham Historical Society’s annual cake contest with this year’s theme: Cakes with a Past
