Tag Archives: Sloss Furnaces

Birmingham Landmarks, Historic Preservation

Don’t Miss the Lighting of Sloss July 23rd

Historic Sloss Furnaces, an iconic Birmingham landmark and a lasting tribute to Birmingham’s industrial beginnings, will be permanently illuminated on July 23rd! This free event and celebration is thanks to the contributions of a corporate donor and Cathy & Paul Jones, You must REGISTER to attend. The public celebration and lighting ceremony will also include 1,000 feet under the 1st Avenue North viaduct.

Sloss Furnaces is a National Historic Landmark that operated until 1971. After closing, it became one of the first industrial sites in the United States to be preserved for public use. Act No. 517 was a crucial piece of local legislation enacted by the Alabama State Legislature in 1973 that granted the City of Birmingham the police power to halt the demolition of historic properties and mandate changes to buildings. 

Why Act No. 517 Matters

In the 1970s, Birmingham’s industrial sector experienced a sharp decline. As a result, many massive, abandoned 19th-century and 20th-century industrial facilities—like the sprawling Sloss Furnaces—were slated for total demolition. (Birmingham’s Terminal Station was demolished in 1969.)

Many thanks to photographer Steve Dunlap for giving us a preview of the extensive lighting project!

At the time, grassroots organizations and the Birmingham Historical Society recognized the profound historical and economic importance of saving these remnants of America’s industrial growth. Using the legal tools provided by Act 517, the city was able to freeze demolitions, secure the land, and prevent the loss of Birmingham’s signature “Iron Empire”. Let’s celebrate this historic landmark on July 23rd!

For more information about Birmingham’s industrial era, please refer to The Birmingham District: An Industrial History and Guide

Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Exhibition, Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation Month

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 has spent more than six decades at the intersection of metallurgy, education, and community. Symphony of Elements is the culmination of all three.

A celebrated Engineering Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Dr. Thompson shaped generations of engineers through his courses in metallurgy, ceramics, and materials science. His influence extended far beyond the classroom: he served on the UAB Long-Term Planning Committee, the School of Engineering Advisory Council, and as president of the UAB National Alumni Society, earning the UAB Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of his lifelong commitment to education.

After more than 60 years as a Birmingham resident, researcher, and teacher, Dr. Thompson created Symphony of Elements to share what he has always known: that metals are not just functional — they are beautiful, complex, and endlessly fascinating.

This exhibit is his gift to the city that shaped him.

Event poster for 'Forged in Steel: A Festival of Elements' celebrating the art and science of metal, featuring live music, metal arts, speakers, vendors, and food trucks, taking place on Saturday, May 23 from 10 AM to 4 PM at Sloss Furnace.
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!