Tag Archives: Bham Now

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, Historic Preservation

Protecting Sloss Furnaces

The National Historic Landmarks Program protects our American cultural heritage by bringing attention to worthy landmarks and guiding the process to nominate them. In Birmingham, there are currently only 3 listed landmarks: 16th Street Baptist Church, Sloss Furnaces, and Bethel Baptist Church as well as the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (which includes multiple sites).

There are over 2,600 National Landmarks in the U.S. today including buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts. To be considered, the landmark must be nationally important and contributing to an understanding of our nation’s heritage. Sloss Furnaces is a monument to our nation’s industrial heritage and was considered to have “perhaps the greatest potential of any area in the country for developing a comprehensive museum to the industry.”

Sloss Furnaces was saved from demolition by the efforts of the Birmingham Regional Planning Commission, who brought the landmark to the attention of the National Park Service. Thanks to Bham Now for highlighting this important process!

Interior view of an industrial facility featuring large metal structures, a conveyor system, and rusted components under a clear blue sky.
Jordyn Davis/Bham Now

While they are not on the National Parks Historic Landmarks list, there are many other historic properties worth noting in Birmingham listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bhamwiki lists them HERE.  

And although the National Register of Historic Landmarks and the National Register of Historic Places are both administered by the National Park Service, the landmarks represent places of exceptional national significance.

Certainly, Sloss Furnaces is worthy of this special recognition!

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Frederick Law Olmsted, George Ward, Olmsted Brothers, Parks & Recreation, Research

Highland Avenue’s Historic Parks

When journalists write about the history of our city’s landmarks, the Society takes note, and appreciates their interest in Birmingham’s heritage. One recent example is Gabby Gervais’ article on 1/27/22 in Bham Now entitled, ”Discover the origin of the 3 unique parks in Highland Park”, in which she quotes BHS Director, Marjorie White.

Today, part of a much loved neighborhood with a variety of affordable housing, Highland Avenue was originally lined with mansions and was the preferred home of many of Birmingham’s founders. The three parks at that time were merely ravines along the popular avenue. So Mayor George Ward, who had a strong interest in public green spaces, declared the ravines on Highland Avenue “parks” assuring that they would remain undeveloped lots.

Rhodes Park, named after the founder of what is now The Birmingham News, is 3 1/4 acres with residential lots that were developed mainly between 1906-1911. The landscape plan was created by Boston landscape architect, George Miller, while some of the architectural features were designed by William Leslie Welton.

Rhodes Park, considered the central park on Highland Avenue, has a number of landscape features not found in the other two. Due to lack of city funds at the time, the stone entrances, steps, and concrete features in Rhodes Park were paid for by the wealthy residents who lived along Highland Avenue at the turn of the century. While the other two ravines remained largely undeveloped, thanks to the efforts of Mayor George Ward, they have nevertheless remained parks, and are included in the Olmsted Brothers plans for green spaces in Birmingham.

Courtesy of highland-park.org, postmarked 1913

Highland Park is a perfect example of a neighborhood that celebrates Birmingham’s past while shaping its future. Learn more about it HERE