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Fun Things to See and Do in and Around Birmingham

 

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Alabamians have played a major role in the development of jazz.  The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame tells the story of musical greats like Sun Ra, Lionel Hampton, Nat “King” Cole, Erskine Hawkins, W.C. Handy, Cootie Williams, Amos Gordon, John T. “Fess” Whatley and many others. Exhibits and memorabilia are displayed in the historic, art deco Carver Theater 

205-254-2731.

 

Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

From Paul “Bear’ Bryant to Jesse Owens and Willie Mays, the memorabilia and memories of Alabama’s sports hero’s are enshrined. Contains over 4,000 pieces of spectacular memorabilia, six life size dioramas an interactive audio-visual touch screens. Located at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex 205-323-6665.

 

Alabama Theatre

Built in the 1920’s, The Alabama Theater is one of the last working movie palaces, featuring first run and revival films along with concerts and special events. “The Showplace of the South” is still among the most elegant and elaborate theaters in the Southeast 205-252-2262.

 

Alabama Veterans Memorial

This 21-acre park is situated on a beautiful, wooded hilltop close to Liberty Park and Interstate 469 in Birmingham. This remarkable complex includes a modern Education Center, a fascinating historical timeline walkway, a spectator historical Regiment of Columns which display stories, letters, and artwork with the 11,000 names of Alabamians lost to war in the 20^th Century

205-733-1066.

 

The American Village

Join costumed historical interpreters as a nation is born and a constitution is framed. Explore Washington Hall, which is patterned after George Washington’s Mt. Vernon. Stroll the Village’s Constitution Green and the Southern Living Colonial Gardens. The American Village is located about 30 minutes south of Birmingham in Montevallo 877-811-1776.

 

Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens

Arlington, the city’s only antebellum mansion and now a decorative arts museum, has a collection of 19^th century furniture, textiles, silver and paintings 205-780-5656.

 

Ave Maria Grotto

For half a century, brother Joseph Zoetti made miniature reproductions of such sacred sites as St. Peter’s Basilica and Bethlehem. The grotto is located on the grounds of the Benedictine Abby in Alabama 256-734-4110.

 

Bessemer Hall of History

A renovated Southern Railway depot houses the Bessemer Hall of History, which chronicles the history of Bessemer, Jefferson County and Alabama. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places 205-426-1633.

 

 

 

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

On this 67-acre site visit a Japanese Garden, complete with a Teahouse, outdoor sculpture collection, desert flowers, roses, bonsai plants, ferns, wildflowers, camellias and rhododendrons 205-879-1227.

 

Birmingham Civil Rights District

The district is a six-block tribute to the monumental fight for human rights in this country. Included in the district: Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and Fourth Avenue Business District. Located between 6^th and 2^nd Avenue North and 15^th Street to 19^th Street in downtown Birmingham.

 

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The institute captures the spirit and drama of the countless individuals both well known and unsung who dared to confront racial discrimination and bigotry. The institute’s permanent exhibtations are a self-directed journey through the Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles of today 205-328-9696.

 

Birmingham Museum of Art

The Birmingham Museum of art is the largest municipal art museum in the Southeast, with an outstanding permanent art collection of over 17,000 works of art. The collection includes European, American, Asian, African art and multi-level sculpture garden 205-254-2565.

 

Birmingham Zoo

This 100–acre site has nearly 1,000 animals on display the zoo offers a fascinating observation and interaction with the animal kingdom 205-879-0409.

 

Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park

The crumbling brick ruins are all that remain of the Brierfield Ironworks, which where destroyed in a raid by the Union army cavalry in March 1865. Special events include a reenactment of the Civil War raid, music festival, country craft fairs and holiday events 205-665-1856.

 

Cobb Lane

Enjoy great restraints, specialty stores and antique shops on this quaint pedestrian street just south of Five Points South. (Located 20^th Street South and 13^th Avenue South)

 

Five Points South

People-watch, dance to great live music and enjoy fantastic dining at Five Points South, one of the cities top entertainment districts. (Located at 20^th Street South at 11^th Avenue South).

 

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

A haven for railroad buffs, a large group of locomotives, railcars, equipment and other rail relics are displayed on museum grounds and in a 100-year-old depot 205-252-2716.

 

International Motorsports Hall of Fame & Museum

Founded to preserve the history of Motorsports, this six-building complex houses over 100 vehicles and memorabilia 256-362-5002.

           

Irondale Whistle Stop Café

On a lazy afternoon sixty years ago a tradition of down home cooking was born, That is when the first batch of fried green tomatoes was served at the Irondale Café. Some 50 years later Fannie Flagg would write a book about that same whistle stop café located east of Birmingham 205-956-5258.

 

McWane Center

Adventures in learning surround you at the McWane Center. The museum offers a hands-on, creative examination of the worlds around us in 150,000 square-feet of educational science and a 42,000-square-foot IMAX theater 205-714-8300.

 

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Visitors Center

The history of the company is housed in a 24,000 square-foot showcase the only Mercedes visitors center outside of Germany. Closed Sundays, Holidays and Saturdays with the exception of the first Saturday of the month. Must be over the age of 12 to tour the plant 205-507-2253.

 

Meyer Planetarium

Gaze at the stars at Meyer Planetarium, and learn fascinating facts about the universe. Call for show time, fees and topics 205-226-4771.

 

Oak Mountain State Park

Offers golfing, boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, petting zoo and lakeside beach 205-620-2524.

 

Pioneer Homes

Three restored pioneer homes on the outskirts of Bessemer offer a glimpse into early life in Alabama. One of the homes, the 1838 Sadler Plantation, is considered one of Alabama’s finest examples of plantation architecture. (Tours by appointment only, and for groups of four or more) Call 205-491-5543 or 205-424-5358.

 

Rickwood Field

The world’s oldest ballpark became home of the Birmingham Barons in 1910. Some of the biggest names in the game of baseball have played at Rickwood such as Babe Ruth, Willie Mayes and Reggie Jackson 205-458-8161.

 

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

The Oxmoore Valley Golf Club is a public, 54-hole golf course and is part of Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Trail. Sculpted from the peaks and valleys of the Appalachians, the courses offer scenic forests, numerous creek and challenging elevation changes 205-942-1177.

 

Ruffner Mountain

With its nature trails and special conservation programs, Ruffner Mountain uncovers the wonders of Birmingham’s natural world, a great urban wilderness of 538 unspoiled acres in the eastern section of the city 205-833-8112.

 

 

 

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church

Is site of the most horrific occurrence of the American Civil Rights Movement, when a bomb took the lives of four young girls. The church is a landmark to man’s inhumanity and capacity for love and forgiveness 205-251-9402.

 

Sloss Furnaces

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark is a 32-acre blast furnace plant where iron was made for nearly 100 years. Now a museum of history and industry, the site preserves an extraordinary collection of buildings, industrial structures and machinery 205-324-1911.

 

Southern Museum of Flight

Explore the miracle of flying through eight decades of aviation history through, aircraft, models and memorabilia of some of the greatest aviation pioneers of all time 205-833-8226.

 

Tannehill Ironworks Historical Sate Park

The old Tannehill Ironworks and a large collection of 19^th century cabins give visitors a glimpse into the life lived by Alabamians in the 1800’s at Tannehill State Park. Enjoy campsites, a train for kids and an excellent restaurant The Furnace Master’s Inn 205-477-5711.

 

Temple of Sibyl

Listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage is located on Highway 31 at the entrance of the city of Vestavia Hills and offers a tremendous view Shades Valley and Samford University Campus.

 

Samuel Ullamn Museum

For years, Samuel Ullman and his prose poem “Youth” have been known and admired by the Japanese. The Museum was created to advance Ullman’s vision by examining his civic, educational and religious ideas and endeavors 205-934-5634.

 

VisionLand

VisionLand Theme Park features four themed areas that contain thrill rides, attractions and seven-acre water park for all ages 205-481-4750.

 

Vulcan

Vulcan, the Roman mythical god of the forge is the second tallest statue in the United Sates after the Statue of Liberty, and is the largest cast-iron statue in the world 205-328-6198.