Explore Birmingham!

Birmingham was born out of the iron and steel industry.  Remnants of those early beginnings are preserved in places such as Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark and Vulcan Park & Museum.  The city is also well known for its prominent role in America’s Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.  A visit to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute gives visitors an in-depth look at that important era.

Today, Birmingham wears a much different face.  It’s a place that’s brimming with entertainment, the arts, nightlife, outdoor recreation and world-class cuisine.

Should you have Birmingham pigeonholed as serving only barbecue and fried pies, remember that the city is home to “the Oscars of dining,” with James Beard Foundation Award winners and nominees.  Visitors to the city should take in the beauty of down-home cooking as well.  And guests with an appetite for live music have come to the right place.

The area’s antique shops are featured in upscale lifestyle magazines around the country.  Trendy malls have taken root, bringing tony, high-end shops to the state’s retail giant. Dozens of art galleries surprise enthusiasts and collectors with a spectrum of paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, fine and folk art.  The Birmingham Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of artistic work from cultures around the world.

With a comfortable climate nearly year-round, Birmingham attracts outdoor advocates to play golf along two courses on the state’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.  Biking, hiking and mountain climbing are popular activities, along with family gatherings in green spaces like Railroad Park downtown.

It is a potpourri of experiences that is the city’s greatest strength and strongest appeal.  We are a medley of cultures and attitudes that blend beautifully with the Southern charm that is Birmingham.