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Birmingham
Skyline1 |
Set in the Appalachian foothills, the young city of
Birmingham
exhibits Southern charm and a strong financial sense, making it a good destination
for business and pleasure. From its early days as a steel town and industrial
center, the city has since grown to include a significant medical research base
as well as a cultural calender that is full of unique and edifying events. Golf
figures highly on many travel itineraries for good reason: the Robert Trent Jones
Golf Trail runs throughout the state of
Alabama
and offers a number of holes in the Birmingham area. The arts can also be enjoyed
in this metropolis, from strolling through museums to enjoying live performances
at one of the local theater spaces. With such a variety of attractions available,
it is rare that visitors leave disappointed.
ORIENTATION
Birmingham is the largest city in the state of Alabama and is the county seat
of Jefferson County, although part of the city also rests in Shelby County.
In fact, due to an enormous urban sprawl, the Greater Birmingham area encompasses
nearly one-quarter of the state's entire population. Located in the north-central
part of Alabama, the city is set at the end of the Appalachian foothills with
Red Mountain directly to the south of the downtown area. Ruffner Mountain is
east of the city and features one of the largest urban nature reserves in the
United States.
HISTORY
Birmingham was incorporated in 1871, a relatively late recognition in contrast
to other Eastern cities. Despite its youth, Birmingham features a colorful and
somewhat checkered past. From a major producer of steel to a hotbed of the Civil
Rights Movement, Birmingham offers a rich history.
The ground beneath Birmingham was the impetus for the start of the town, rich
as it was with iron ore, limestone and coal, the key ingredients for making
steel. A major railway route converged in Birmingham, making it the most sensible
spot for a town site. A cholera outbreak and the Wall Street Crash of 1873 presented
temporary stumbling blocks for the city's growth, after which the industriousness
of the local population took hold in earnest. Prolific steel production during
World War II allowed Birmingham to pull itself out from under the heel of the
Depression, and the city continued to grow.
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| Birmingham
Museum of Art1 |
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The 1950s and 60s thrust Birmingham onto the world stage as it became a symbol
for the indignities and injustice that was being committed against African-Americans
in the United States. Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent Civil Rights leader,
wrote his famous, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” after being jailed
for civil disobedience, a charge brought for King's participation in a non-violent
protest. The peaceful, non-violent protests were met with staunch resistance by
those in authority, including police who used attack dogs to threaten and intimidate
and fire departments who used blasts from fire hoses to force protesters from
the streets.
As the nation began to take responsibility for its grievous acts of segregation,
issues in Birmingham were compounded by civic woes, most notably urban blight
and unemployment. The city's economy experienced a resurgence in the 1970s with
the introduction of medical research facilities and an urban renewal project.
In 1979, Birmingham elected its first African-American mayor, a sign that the
city was trying to reconcile its racially-segregated past.
| |
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Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Rainfall |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
34°F
(1°C) |
54°F
(12°C) |
127mm |
| Feb |
37°F
(3°C) |
58°F
(14°C) |
127mm |
| Mar
|
43°F
(6°C) |
66°F
(19°C) |
152mm |
| Apr |
51°F
(11°C) |
75°F
(24°C) |
152mm |
| May
|
59°F
(15°C) |
82°F
(28°C) |
102mm |
| Jun
|
67°F
(19°C) |
88°F
(31°C) |
102mm |
| Jul |
70°F
(21°C) |
90°F
(32°C) |
127mm |
|
Aug |
69°F
(21°C) |
90°F
(32°C) |
102mm |
|
Sep |
64°F
(18°C) |
85°F
(29°C) |
102mm |
|
Oct |
52°F
(11°C) |
76°F
(24°C) |
76mm |
|
Nov |
42°F
(6°C) |
64°F
(18°C) |
102mm |
|
Dec |
36°F
(2°C) |
56°F
(13°C) |
127mm |
|
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Climate
data from the
Southeast Regional Climate Center |
CLIMATE
Birmingham experiences a significant amount of rainfall during the year, with
the spring months yielding the most precipitation. Summers are warm and winters
are generally mild, with annual snowfall that usually amounts to less than 1
in. (2.5 cm). Despite the relatively moderate climate, visitors should be aware
that Birmingham is located in what is known as Dixie Alley, a well known tornado
path in Alabama that sees tornado activity in the spring. Trips made during
the summer or fall could also mean weathering a hurricane or tropical storm
due to Birmingham's location near the Central Gulf Coast. Emergency plans are
in place to deal with any eventuality that may befall the region, and travelers
are reminded to familiarize themselves with any disaster preparedness procedures
while in the area.
TRANSPORTATION
Birmingham is accessed via Interstate 65 from the north or south and Interstate
20 or 59 from the east or west. The Birmingham
International Airport services the area and welcomes roughly 160 flights
per day, resulting in nearly three million visitors by air to Birmingham every
year. Amtrak is another option for transportation in the Birmingham area, with
daily routes to New York
City, Baltimore,
Atlanta, New
Orleans and other prominent destinations in the United States. Local
transportation includes public
transit and train
service, as well as car
rentals, all of which are conveniently found at the airport and throughout
the city.
ATTRACTIONS
Birmingham's size ensures that a wide variety of tastes can be accommodated
while in the area. From history to sports to family-friendly activities, itineraries
for visitors to Birmingham are generally full.
Civil Rights Attractions
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| Civil
Rights Institute Museum3 |
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Some of the foremost attractions in Birmingham are those dealing with the Civil
Right Movement. The
Civil
Rights Institute offers a permanent reminder of the significance of this
shift in American consciousness, a change that helped usher in a more tolerant
country. Housed in a distinctive domed structure, the Civil Rights Institute is
considered to be the focal point of the Civil Rights District in Birmingham.
Kelly
Ingram Park is another important Civil Rights-era attraction. It was
in the streets that border this park that protesters were beaten and harassed
during the early days of May, 1963. Early on September 15, 1963, Ku Klux Klan
members firebombed the Sixteenth
Street Baptist Church on 16th Street, killing four African-American
girls and causing a national outcry that helped solidify support for the Civil
Rights Movement. The
church is located near Kelly Ingram Park.
Outdoors
Birmingham also has the potential to intrigue those visitors not interested
in history. To get outside and enjoy the Alabaman climate, visitors are encouraged
to check out the Botanical
Gardens, featuring opportunities for guests to become acquainted with
a variety of flora native to the area. For those looking for a more active outdoor
role, there are a myriad of lakes in the Birmingham area that are popular with
anglers. In fact, Birmingham is known as the Bass Capital of the United States,
no small claim considering the sport's popularity. Golfers know this area for
its place on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a route that includes 432 holes
at 10 different courses throughout Alabama. Robert Trent Jones courses in the
Birmingham area include Silver
Lakes and Oxmoor
Valley.
Family Attractions
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Alabama
Adventure Theme Park4 |
Families visiting the Birmingham area are not disappointed. The
Alabama
Adventure Theme Park (formerly Visionland) is full of amusement park rides,
food and more, all bound to entertain children and parents alike. A waterpark
is also located at Alabama Adventure, offering visitors the opportunity to cool
down during the Alabama summers.
For the curious, the McWane
Science Center provides an array of exhibits and displays, including an
IMAX theater housed in a giant dome. There is also an aquarium at the site that
allows visitors to witness aquatic animals in both saltwater and freshwater environments.
Art
Art lovers visiting Birmingham appreciate the variety of art available to them.
The Sidewalk
Moving Picture Festival is an annual event that sees a wide selection
of films screened for cinephiles from across the country. Visitors in town for
the festival may want to experience the wealth of culture and art at the Birmingham
Museum of Art, the largest such collection in the southern United States.
Open year-round, the museum features permanent exhibits in addition to several
touring shows every year.
Sports
The Barber
Motorsports Museum is a popular destination with automotive enthusiasts,
featuring a collection of memorabilia and artifacts related to all aspects of
motorsports racing in the United States. The museum is home to a 2.3 mi (3.7
km) race track in addition to the over 900 examples of race cars and motorcycles
that date from the early 20th century to the present, making this one of the
largest automotive museums in the world.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- c/o Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau; Birmingham Skyline;
Birmingham, AL, USA
- c/o Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau; Birmingham Museum
of Art; Birmingham, AL, USA
- c/o Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau; Civil Rights Institute
Museum; Birmingham, AL, USA
- c/o Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau; VisionLand Waterpark;
Birmingham, AL, USA
United States
