Must-See Places in Birmingham

From historical sites to impressive museums, Birmingham has something for everyone

Located at the foothills of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, Birmingham offers wonderful surprises everywhere you look. From lush rolling hills and awardwinning restaurants to historical sites commemorating Birmingham’s important role in the Civil Rights Movement, Birmingham offers visitors and locals alike a seemingly never-ending list of activities and adventures.

Civil Rights District

Now a National Monument, Birmingham’s Civil Rights District should be at the top of any visitor’s to-do list. Located in downtown Birmingham where a number of significant events of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ’60s occurred, the Civil Rights District includes a number of historical landmarks. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute offers exhibits on segregation and the Civil Rights struggle, including ones on the 1955 arrest of Rosa Parks for her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white man and the U.S. Supreme Court’s bus desegregation ruling in 1956.

Vintage Motorsports Museum

Located on the east side of Birmingham, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is home to the largest collection of motorcycles in the world with some 1,600 impeccably restored bikes spanning more than 100 years of production displayed inside a beautiful contemporary building. More than 950 bikes can be seen on any given day, and 200 different manufacturers from 20 countries are represented in the collection, including HarleyDavidson, Honda, Indian, Showa, DSK and Cagiva. In keeping with the founder’s love for cars and racing, the museum also features the world’s most extensive Lotus collection and rare racecars, including the 1964 Ferrari F-158 in which John Surtees won the 1964 Formula 1 Driver’s World Championship.

Vulcan Park And Museum

Pay your respects to Birmingham’s iron origins at Vulcan Park and Museum atop Red Mountain overlooking the valley in which Birmingham is nestled. There, you’ll find a towering statue of Vulcan, Roman God of Fire and Forge. Standing 56 feet tall, Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue.

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Sara Hamlin, 205-214-9205, shamlin@inbirmingham.com inbirmingham.com