Birmingham, also known as The Magic City, was nicknamed for its amazingly fast growth fueled by iron ore, limestone, and coal. Sloss Furnaces was America’s largest producer of iron in the 1920s.

Now a National Historic Landmark, it defines Birmingham’s skyline with its towering blast furnaces which quit operating in 1971. The open air museum features events, festivals, and metal workers. Read more about it in Birmingham by the Book (pgs. 34-35)