Tag Archives: iron ore

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, Coal Mines, Railroads, Vulcan

Mineral Riches and Historic Mines in Birmingham

Birmingham emerged as the industrial capital of The South by 1900, and its growth was so fast, it was nicknamed The Magic City. For those curious about Birmingham’s resources, mines, and mineral lands, there are lots of sites to see (see pg. 11 of Birmingham by the Book for a list of 15 )! The historic Lone Pine Iron Mine opened around 1900 and can be viewed from The Vulcan Trail. It was a part of the Birmingham Mineral Railroad but the mine was closed shortly before WWI.

(photo above by Art Meripol 2025)

Tannehill Furnace (photo by Marjorie White)

During the Civil War, the Tannehill site expanded into three large stone cold blast furnaces producing up to 22 tons of pig iron daily for the Confederacy. The Union Cavalry under General James H. Wilson destroyed and burned the furnaces on March 31, 1865. But because it had successfully produced pig iron, the site is considered to be the birthplace of iron and steel making in the Birmingham District.

For more information, please refer to The Birmingham District: An Industrial History and Guide and Building Birmingham’s Industrial Base

Birmingham Historical Society, Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation Month, lecture, Railroads, Red Mountain

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 have been converted to walking, biking, and hiking trails, while one segment from Bessemer to Tuscaloosa and Huntsville remains active. But James Lowery stressed in his talk May 10th that its historic importance to the economic development of Birmingham remains and needs to be preserved.

Two men holding a sign that reads 'Historic Birmingham Mineral Railroad Site' inside a building with historical displays in the background.
BHS President Wayne Hester with guest speaker, James Lowery
A table set with snacks and drinks, featuring a model train track, floral arrangements, and decorated cupcakes with railway signs. Guests are mingling in the background.
A lively gathering of people socializing at an indoor event, with a table featuring drinks, snacks, and floral decorations. A model train track is also visible in the foreground.
An interactive historical presentation featuring a speaker demonstrating tools in front of an audience seated in a room decorated with photographs and artifacts.
Presentation slide showing an old image of L&N Union Station from the late 1800s, featuring streetcars, tracks, and a person on a bicycle.
A speaker presents to an audience, displaying a slide titled 'Project Logo Embodies the Industrial Purpose of the BMRR' with visuals representing a logo related to rail and industrial themes.
Presentation slide displaying an excerpt from The L & N Employees' Magazine, February 1940, discussing the historical impact of the L & N Railroad on coal mines and furnaces, with a blurred audience in the foreground.
A speaker presenting information on early mining transportation in Birmingham, with a projector screen displaying text and an audience attentively listening.
A speaker presents to an audience in a room, with a display screen showing an image of oxen and mules pulling a wooden ore wagon from 1872, alongside text providing information about the photo.
A speaker presenting to an audience in a well-lit room, with a projected historical image on the screen about railroad construction from 1872. The audience, consisting of mostly older adults, is seated and focused on the presentation.
Over 70 people attended the talk by James Lowery on Birmingham Mineral Railroad at Birmingham Historical Society headquarters on Highland Avenue in Southside.

James Lowery is the volunteer coordinator and historian of the Mid-South Chapter of the Historic Birmingham Mineral Railroad Signs Project which is installing signs on the rail bed at various locations throughout the Birmingham area and in surrounding areas. He wants to make people aware of where the historic railroad ran, often in surprising places like below Vulcan, and in English Village. For more information, photos, maps, or to contribute to this project, click HERE or on the gallery above. And then, look for these signs! You may be surprised where you’ll find them.

The Birmingham Mineral Railroad is marked with signs like this.

See also BHS May 2026 BHS newsletter which includes additional information in the Salute to our Rail Heritage.

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham pioneers, family history, Railroads, Research

About our historic sister city…

Did you know we have a namesake in the United Kingdom, also known as the UK’s second city? It was established by Lord Mayor Peter de Birmingham, who was allowed to hold the first market on his property by King Henry II in 1166. By 1538, in Birmingham, England, there were 1,500 people in 200 houses selling goods, and the town was developing a reputation as a metalworking center. It’s now famous for being the first manufacturing town in the world with a population of 2.5 million.

Hundreds of years later, in 1871, Birmingham, Alabama, was chartered. As it had vast deposits of iron ore and coal, founders envisioned an industrial future similar to Birmingham, England, so the name Birmingham was proposed.

“Who suggested the name? There is some dispute – and no official record of the name’s source – but the most conclusive evidence points to (James R.) Powell. This is supported by the fact that he had recently toured Birmingham, England, that country’s second-largest city and the leading center of the Industrial Revolution, and was inspired by the massive iron works there. In 1930, Powell’s daughter, Mary Powell Crane, recalled in her biography of her father that he was “greatly impressed by the industries” of the English city and “never tired of telling about his visit” there.” – Alabama News Center

As we continue to record our relatively new history in Birmingham, Alabama on our website birminghamhistoricalsociety.com, we are occasionally confused with Birmingham, England online.

A recent example was an offer of this impressive inherited collection of special editions of the Birmingham Mail newspaper. Anyone from Birmingham, England interested? Let us know and we’ll put you in touch!