Need a Father’s Day gift or activity?
Lots of ideas for things to do with your father in Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City. Explore places where you’ve never been, or visit historical sites that your father remembers. Listen to stories from his past about Birmingham’s industrial age or the Civil Rights Movement. Visit sports venues or history…
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Have you visited American Village yet?
Alabama is fortunate to have an educational institution in Montevallo that educates families, students, and visitors alike on the history of this country. Its mission is to inspire citizens and future leaders by bringing our history alive through settings and programs especially aimed toward young people. On 183 acres, they recreate the drama of American…
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Less than A MONTH away! America Celebrates!
Have you heard about the initiatives celebrating America’s 250 years of freedom? Here are three ways that you can participate. And for events in Jefferson County, view the list below! Jefferson County Events Jun12, 2026 2026 Alabama State Games June 12 – June 14 The Alabama State Games was established in 1982 at the request of…
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Symphony of Elements: A Free Tribute to Metal Art and Science
Opening May 23rd, this exhibit by The Symphony of Elements Foundation is FREE as a landmark tribute to Birmingham’s industrial heritage at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark — “one of the most historically significant industrial sites in the United States”. Chairman + Director, Symphony of Elements Foundation Dr. Raymond Thompson, PhD, PE Dr. Raymond Thompson…
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James Lowery on the Birmingham Mineral Railroad’s Legacy
Learn why the Birmingham Mineral Railroad was significant to Birmingham’s economic development, as explained by railroad historian, James Lowery. As volunteer coordinator and member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-South Chapter, Lowery details the privately funded Historic Birmingham Mineral Railroad Signs Project created to locate signs all along its route, in order to…
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The Birmingham Mineral Railroad: A Century of Impact
The 393 mile division of the L&N Railroad known as the Birmingham Mineral Railroad was active for 100 years from 1884 to 1998. It transported raw materials of coal, iron ore, and limestone from local deposits into furnaces, then to processing facilities, and eventually to extended routes to be distributed across the country. Some portions…
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Protecting a Preserve in Bluff Park
Birmingham may soon have an 18 acre natural preserve near Tip Top Grill in Bluff Park, thanks largely to Larry Rodick, President of Friends of Shade Mountain, who has been spearheading the effort. Birmingham City Council has approved an agreement to work with Hoover and the non-profit organization to protect this historic and scenic site.…
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May is Preservation Month!
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
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Riding the Rails: Past Meets Present
Mark your calendars for this upcoming event on Sunday, May 10th, 3:00 PM at 2827 Highland Avenue! James Lowery is an authority on the path of the Birmingham Mineral Railroad, and has installed 199 signs to indicate the former roadbed.
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What’s the History of your House?
If you’ve ever wondered about the history of your house, mark your calendar for Saturday, April 18th!
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Birmingham’s Historic Food Creations
Birmingham is a true ‘foodie’ town now with multiple fine restaurants from which to choose, attracting tourists from all over the country. But it’s always been innovative and resourceful regarding food. These unique items were among those first invented in Birmingham and many are still available. Watch this video from Dish Decoded for the complete…
Historic Hollywood Tour of Homes
Celebrating 100 years of the historic Hollywood neighborhood is a tour this Sunday from 1 to 4 PM of four beautifully renovated Hollywood homes. The district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, and is one of the earliest planned communities in the State. Noteworthy for its abundance of Spanish Mission…
A Passion for Birmingham’s History
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…
Need ideas for Family Friendly Outings?
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: A typical page is pictured below. Quickly access places to go and things to do with a particular emphasis on the history…
The Story of Birmingham’s Iron Ore History
YouTube Video produced by Bristool Documentaries
Historic Hiking Trails in Birmingham
Are you a hiker? Do you enjoy nature trails? Are you interested in history? If so, there is lots to explore on Birmingham’s historic hiking trails as posted by AllTrails and available right on your smartphone. The app provides driving directions, maps, points of interest, photos, and even plant identification with estimated times, length of…
How to buy the BOOK
Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City is now available at local vendors, Shoppe in Forest Park, Thank You Books in Crestwood, the Birmingham Museum of Art gift shop, and at Birmingham Historical Society offices in Highland Park. It’s also available on Amazon.com. Don’t miss out on this definitive guide!
Photo Highlights from the Annual Meeting
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…
Ways to Celebrate Black History Month
February is Black History Month and reviewing Birmingham’s Civil Rights History is a great way to acknowledge it. The following is a video produced by CBS 42 with places to explore. The Rev. Jesse Jackson who died today, had ties to Birmingham’s Civil Rights history rooted in his work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and…
If you missed the documentary…
The film produced by Katie Rogers and Brandon McCray tells the story of how jazz was cultivated and popularized in Ensley, centered around what is now known as the Nixon Building, located at the junction of two streetcar lines. During the 1920s and 1930s, the nightclub on this corner was a vibrant social hub and…
ANNUAL MEETING, Birmingham by the Book Introduction & Event Highlights
Available NOW! BUY HERE ON AMAZON.COM or support our local vendors: Shoppe in Forest Park and Thank You Books in Crestwood 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…
Quick Preview of Documentary SUNDAY, Jan 18th
Don’t forget to register for this FREE event!
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