Birmingham history and landmarks

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Founding facts come from the City of Birmingham’s About Birmingham page; listings and years from the National Park Service’s National Register data, updated through May 22, 2026; hours from each site’s own page.

Birmingham was founded in 1871 at the crossing of two rail lines near one of the world’s richest deposits of minerals, and the Alabama Legislature passed an act to incorporate the city on Dec. 19, 1871, according to the city’s About Birmingham page. Iron ore, coal and limestone defined the city at its founding, the city says, and its industrial and civil rights history is written across 160 National Register listings.

Visit

• Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark: 1st Avenue North at 32nd Street; free admission (city page)
• Arlington Historic House: 331 Cotton Ave. SW, Birmingham, AL 35211; Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Vulcan Park and Museum: 1701 Valley View Drive, 205-933-1409
• Negro Southern League Museum: free for most visitors; group visits, 205-581-3040
• Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument: National Park Service

How the city began

The city’s own history is short and specific: founded in 1871 where two railroads crossed beside iron ore, coal and limestone, and incorporated by the state that December. One of the region’s earliest landmarks predates the city: Arlington, in the Elyton community, began as a small structure built in 1822 and was expanded to its current appearance in 1842, the city says. It was the first Birmingham property listed on the National Register, in 1970.

The National Historic Landmarks

Two Birmingham sites carry the federal government’s highest historic designation, according to the National Park Service data:

• Sloss Blast Furnace Site, listed on the National Register in 1972 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1981. The city says Sloss operated for 90 years until the iron stopped pouring in 1971, and was saved by residents and a city investment.
• Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, listed in 1980 and designated in 2006.

Historic districts downtown and beyond

The Downtown Birmingham Historic District was listed in 1982 and enlarged in 1985, 1998 and 2016. Other listed districts include the Morris Avenue Historic District (1973), the Heaviest Corner on Earth at 1st Avenue North and 20th Street (1985), the Birmingham Civil Rights Historic District (2006), Five Points South (1983, enlarged three times) and neighborhood districts from Norwood and Woodlawn to Ensley and Avondale Park.

Museums and sites open to visitors

Sloss Furnaces. Admission is free, with a self-guided tour of the 15-acre site. Guided tours cost a small fee and run Tuesday to Saturday at 10:30 a.m. or 2 p.m.; the city asks visitors to call at least a day ahead (Discover Sloss). The city’s calendar shows Sloss closed on Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Arlington Historic House and Gardens, 331 Cotton Ave. SW. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the last tour ticket is sold at 2:30 p.m. Closed Sunday, Monday and city holidays (visit page).

Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Drive. The Vulcan statue was listed on the National Register in 1976. The park grounds, observation tower and museum are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, according to Vulcan.

A.G. Gaston Motel, part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. Built in 1954 by entrepreneur A.G. Gaston to give Black travelers first-class lodging, it is open Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the city says (monument page).

Negro Southern League Museum. Admission is free for most visitors; the museum asks a $1 donation per person for groups of 10 or more, scheduled in advance at 205-581-3040 (visit page). Nearby Rickwood Field, listed in 1993, is the oldest professional ballpark in the United States, the city says.

Oak Hill Cemetery, 1120 19th St. N., was listed on the National Register in 1977.

Every National Register listing

These are all 160 entries the National Park Service lists under Birmingham, with the year each was listed. A few listed under a Birmingham address sit just outside the city limits. Boundary increases are separate entries.

What this means for you

• Start at Sloss Furnaces and the Civil Rights District for the city’s two big stories.
• Check hours before you go; Arlington closes Sunday and Monday and on city holidays.
• Own a building in a listed district? Talk to the city’s historic preservation staff before exterior work; see our permits guide.

Related: parks and trails, things to do this month and Birmingham population and growth.

Frequently asked questions

When was Birmingham, Alabama, founded?

In 1871, at the crossing of two rail lines near rich deposits of iron ore, coal and limestone. The Alabama Legislature passed an act to incorporate the city on Dec. 19, 1871, the city says.

How many National Register of Historic Places listings are in Birmingham?

The National Park Service’s data list 160 entries under Birmingham, counting boundary increases, from the 1970 listing of Arlington to listings made in 2025.

Is Sloss Furnaces free?

Yes. The city says admission to Sloss Furnaces is free, with a self-guided tour of the 15-acre site. Guided tours cost a small fee, Tuesday to Saturday at 10:30 a.m. or 2 p.m.

What are the National Historic Landmarks in Birmingham?

The Sloss Blast Furnace Site, designated in 1981, and Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, designated in 2006, according to the National Park Service.

When is Arlington Historic House open?

Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the last tour ticket sold at 2:30 p.m. It is closed Sunday, Monday and city holidays.