Tag Archives: Birmingham by the Book

Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, BOOK, Historic Preservation, Map, Publications

FREE City Center Historic Architecture Tours

Did you know that a FREE self-guided downtown architectural tour is available! Download and print the 64 page pdf file and use it in conjunction with our newest publication, Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City, and this map below. Clicking on the icons on the map provides additional information about each building as well as the page number where it is referenced in the guide book.

This Third Edition of the Downtown Discovery Tour was created in honour of Patricia Hough Camp & Marjorie Lee White and was published with the financial support of:

The Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust, Alabama Power Foundation
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
City of Birmingham, Alabama Historical Commission and
Birmingham Realty Company, the real estate firm that founded
our city in 1871, in honor of its 125th Anniversary

An historical black-and-white photograph showing a busy urban street in Birmingham, Alabama in 1913, featuring horse-drawn carriages, streetcars, and tall skyscrapers. The image captures the 'Heaviest Corner on Earth' at the intersection of 20th Street, with signs indicating the Brown Marx and Empire buildings.
Black and white image of a decorative building facade featuring arched windows, ornamental stonework, and a hanging lantern.
Historical image depicting the founding of Birmingham, showcasing railroad tracks that symbolize the city's beginnings, alongside portraits of key figures: John T. Milner, Josiah Morris, and Colonel James R. Powell.

Map of Birmingham highlighting an architectural tour in the city center, with marked buildings and a list of notable structures.
Olmsted Brothers, Parks & Recreation

Nature Walks Along Lakeshore Drive

Part of the Red Rock Trail System, this 3.9 mile greenway along Lakeshore Drive in Homewood is in the floodplain of what used to be Edgewood Lake. This Homewood segment is part of an interconnected network of multi-use greenways, parks, bike lanes, and street-based sidewalks across Jefferson County, Alabama.

A great interactive map by the Freshwater Land Trust locates all the greenways, nature trails, gardens, and bike lanes in Jefferson County. The non-profit began trail building in 2010 using funds for a master plan following the Olmsted Brothers’ 1925 park plan for Birmingham. A list of parks, preserves, greenways, scenic drives, and viewpoints is also in Birmingham by the Book on page 12. And page 8 lists the abandoned railroads that present opportunites for hiking rail trails.

A tranquil river scene surrounded by lush green trees and foliage, with reflections in the water and a sandy bank in the foreground.
A diverse group of people walking along a paved path under a rusted metal bridge, surrounded by greenery and trees, on a sunny day.
A person standing on a hiking trail surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in shades of orange, red, and yellow.
A person sitting on a platform high in a tree, connected by a suspended walkway, surrounded by bare trees and a hillside view in the background.
Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, TRUE TALES, True Tales of Birmingham

From Comic Pages to ‘True Tales’: Birmingham’s Early Pioneers

In the days before digital news, the comic pages were a favorite fixture of the newspaper by kids and adults alike. The Birmingham Historical Society used its popularity to promote early leaders of the city in quick profiles published every Saturday from February 1991 to April 1992.

The series, entitled True Tales, highlighted the accomplishments of the people who contributed much to the early development of Birmingham. Its 128 pages tell the stories of industrialists, educators, church leaders, activists, settlers, developers, architects, entertainers, philanthropists and more! And for a definitive current guide to Birmingham and its history, check out Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City.

Join our Highland Park Historical Scavenger Hunt Sunday, October 18th from 3-5 and you might even win a copy of True Tales!

Invitation to Highland Park community event on Sunday, October 18th from 3-5pm, featuring an after-party at Rojo. Includes details about enjoying local businesses, live music, and community camaraderie.
For more info: https://highland-park.org/10-18-26/
Table of contents for a book featuring various historical figures, including engineers, educators, and entrepreneurs, with associated page numbers.

Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, civil rights, Map, Neighborhoods, Parks & Recreation, Railroads

Map Your Visit to the Magic City

Birmingham by the Book Cover

Use this guide and the map below to plan your visit to Birmingham. Each location includes the matching page number from Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City, so you can easily read more about it.

Using the map: Tap or click the white menu icon in the upper-left corner of the map (legend button), immediately to the left of the blue B to chose a category, then select any map marker to see the site name, photographs, information, and its page number in the book.

On a phone or tablet: You can move around the map and zoom in to explore different areas of Birmingham. Use the map’s legend button to switch between categories. Choose a category before expanding the map in the upper right hand corner.

When you click or tap a pin on the map, a little popup will appear with the site’s name and the matching page number from the book, so you can easily find it.

Using an iPad and it won’t open? Try this link instead and open in a new tab.

What’s in Birmingham by the Book? All these sites above and MORE!

Visit the Magic City of Birmingham using Birmingham by the Book!
Birmingham Historical Society, Highland Avenue, Historic Preservation, Neighborhoods, Southside

Porch Crawl in Historic Highland Park

Birmingham Historical Society is excited to participate in the 2nd annual Porch Crawl in Highland Park, Sunday, October 18th, 3-5 PM! It’s FREE and open to the public, rain or shine, but hoping for beautiful October weather. It was very well attended last year! Take a look in the video below! And then read more about it and browse photos on Highland Parks Neighborhood Association website. Hope to see you in October!

Featuring 16 stops in no particular order, here’s a map:

Map showing a walking route through Rhodes Park and Rushton Park, with labeled points and a highlighted pathway.

And at our stop, you can expect the following:

Birmingham Historical Society  2827 Highland Ave
Pick up a copy of the Historic Highland Scavenger Hunt! Complete and return it to BHS by 5 p.m. to win a copy of True Tales of Birmingham, one of the Society’s most popular books. While at BHS, browse an exhibit of aerial photographs from the Society’s newest release Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City and the Society’s other books for sale, learn about Highland Avenue’s grand residences, and get tips on researching the history of your home or apartment and how to get an historical marker.

Birmingham Historical Society, Frederick Law Olmsted, Olmsted Brothers, Parks & Recreation, Red Mountain Park

I can see for miles and miles…from Ruffner Mountain

Over 1,000 acres just minutes from downtown Birmingham (and covering an area larger than Central Park) is the reclaimed mining land of Ruffner Mountain. Mining operations began on the mountain under the Sloss Iron and Steel Company to supply iron ore to nearby Sloss Furnaces from the late 1880s until operations finally closed on June 1, 1953.

It’s the highest point in the city of Birmingham and now features over 12 miles of hiking trails. The preserved panoramic view began with 25 acres of the former limestone quarry and surrounding land in 1977. Additional land was provided by the city, by various conservation organizations, and the state’s Forever Wild Land Trust.

The Red Rock Trail System® (RRTS) is a 750-mile master plan connecting 6 main trail corridors including Ruffner Mountain. An interactive map shows the complete system and according to Birmingham Historical Society Director Marjorie White, the map looks very similar to what the Olmsted Brothers firm proposed for Birmingham in 1924.

In 2017, Ruffner Mountain was one of six Birmingham historical sites celebrating Alabama’s industrial and economic history.

Interested in hiking, biking, or nature trails? There’s lots from which to choose and you can find a comprehensive list located on pgs 12-13 of Birmingham by the Book.

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.