Birmingham, Alabama: Civil Rights Landmarks & Cultural Attractions

What does a former Porsche race car driver do when he retires? He starts collecting and restoring vintage motorcycles. George Barber won 63 races in the 1960s, and when he retired, he decided to put a bit of his passion into building a museum for other speed enthusiasts. Instead of cars, however, he started collecting motorcycles. He opened the museum in 1995, and his beautiful, restored-to-racing condition machines were part of the Guggenheim The Art of the Motorcycle exhibit.

They also participate in many races of historic motorcycles and continue to win. This is the world’s largest motorcycle collection, according to Guinness World Records and one of the best things to do in Birmingham, Alabama. The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum has more than 1,400 motorcycles, and about 650 bikes are on display at any time. They represent 200 manufacturers from about 20 countries. Any motorcycle enthusiast would get goose bumps while admiring rare Harley-Davidson, Indian, Honda, Showa, Cagiva, and DSK bikes gleaming resplendently on the museum floor.

6030 Barber Motorsports Parkway, Birmingham, AL, Phone: 205-699-7275

The Birmingham Museum of Art lets you admire 25,000 objects covering a range of cultures. There is plenty to see for the whole family. We love it.

Birmingham Museum of Art - FAQ

• Q: When did the Birmingham Museum of Art open?
  A: The Birmingham Museum of Art opened its doors in 1951.
  
  
• Q: Where is the Birmingham Museum of Art located?
  A: The museum is located in the heart of Birmingham’s cultural district at 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd, formerly 2000 8th Ave. N, Birmingham, Alabama.
  
  
• Q: What does the museum's permanent collection include?
  A: The permanent collection contains over 25,000 objects covering a range of cultures, including Asian, American, European, African, Native American, and Pre-Columbian art.
  
  
• Q: What is special about the museum’s Asian art collection?
  A: The museum’s Asian art collection is considered one of the finest in the Southeast, and its collection of Vietnamese ceramics is one of the best in the world.
  
  
• Q: What are some other highlights of the museum’s permanent collection?
  A: Highlights include:
  • A Kress collection of Baroque and Renaissance paintings, decorative arts, and sculpture.
    
    
  • 18th century European decorative arts.
    
    
  • A world-renowned collection of Wedgwood china.
    
    
• Q: Does the museum offer activities and events?
  A: Yes, the museum offers a range of lectures, events, and activities for different audiences, including school children, art collectors, and donors.
  
  
• Q: Why is the Birmingham Museum of Art notable?
  A: It is one of the top attractions in Birmingham, featuring an extensive and diverse collection, educational programs, and cultural significance.
  
  
• Q: How can I contact the Birmingham Museum of Art?
  A: You can contact the museum by phone at 205-254-2565.
  
  

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is an educational and cultural research center with a mission of educating and enlightening future generations about human and civil rights by sharing and investigating the past and offering opportunities for working together to build a better future.

The Institute was opened in 1992 and has 58,000 square feet of archives, galleries, meeting rooms, and temporary exhibits.

Visits to the museum are self-guided and start at the permanent exhibit, which consists of a journey from the 50s and 60s Civil Rights Movement to contemporary human rights issues.

The Institute hosts numerous activities and events and has a range of programs for different audiences, from school children to adults, from teachers to tourists.

520 Sixteenth Street North, Birmingham, AL, Phone: 866-328-9696

Did you know that the Stegosaurus was up to 30 feet long but that its brain was the size of a walnut? This is just one of many fun facts kids and kids at heart can discover at the McWane Science Center. The center not only teaches about science, but also makes science fun through a range of hands-on, interactive exhibits such as Just Mice Size, Alabama Dinosaurs and Sea Monsters, Explore!, Collections Center, NatureScope, World of Water Aquarium, and so much more. If you are looking for fun things to do in Birmingham, Alabama with kids, this is a great place to visit.

Exhibits are designed to encourage exploring and questioning. The state-of-the-art center is located in downtown Birmingham in the refurbished historic building that was the former Loveman’s department store.

200 19th Street N, Birmingham, Alabama, Phone: 205-714-8300

On the top of Red Mountain just outside Birmingham sits a 50-ton 56-foot tall iron statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. This enormous sculpture, the largest cast iron statue in the world, has been guarding Birmingham since the 1930s and is one of the city’s most important symbols. Designed by Italian sculptor Giuseppe Moretti, the statue was made of local iron and is surrounded by a beautiful, well-maintained park, which is a popular place for weddings, parties, watching the spectacular view of the city, or just enjoying the day. The park is home of the Vulcan Museum, which hosts a range of exhibits, lectures, and other events. The Vulcan Park is the most popular place from which to watch the annual 4th of July fireworks.

1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham, Alabama, Phone: 205-933-1409

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark is a historic site and museum which operated as an iron producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971.

When it was built, it was the first blast furnace in Birmingham. After it closed, it was restored and it is the only blast furnace in the United States to be preserved. It is now listed as a National Historic Landmark and the site is used as a museum to explain the iron industry to the public.

It hosts a metal arts program and is the venue for concerts and festivals. “Sloss Fright Furnace” is an annual Halloween event in which the furnace is used as a haunted house.

Address: Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, 20 32nd Street N, Birmingham, Alabama, Phone: 205-324-1911

For the first 55 years of its life, The Alabama Theatre was used mostly as a movie palace for Paramount films. Paramount Studios built the theatre in 1927 so that Alabama would have a place to showcase their films. If you are looking for romantic date ideas in Birmingham, visit the Alabama Theatre.

It was also used for the Mickey Mouse Club and Miss Alabama pageant until 1987, when it changed hands and became the Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts. Today, the Theatre hosts not only films, but more than 300 events every year.

The original look of the classic theatre was restored in 1998; many original features were repaired, but the theatre was also brought into the 21st century. The theatre is home to Alabama’s highly prized Mighty Wurlitzer Organ and can accommodate almost 2,500 people.

Address: Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama, Phone: 205-252-2262

Pepper Place Saturday Market was established in 2000 in order to connect local family farmers within a 100-mile radius of Birmingham with the residents of the city. If you are wondering what to do in Birmingham with kids, this is a great place to explore.

The farmers get exposure to hungry clients who demand fresh, seasonal produce, and residents are able to find healthy, local produce and high quality food in one place.

The market has grown to 100 tents scattered around Pepper Place and is now open from April to December.

You can find anything there, including hybrid and heirloom tomatoes, all kinds of berries, fruits, veggies, herbs, cheeses, meats, breads and much more. There is lot of delicious food, from pastries to sausages and burritos, and many artisans offer unique gifts and home decorating items.

2829 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, Alabama, Phone: 205-802-2100

Rickwood Field was built in 1910 by Rick Woodward, an industrialist and the owner of the Birmingham Barons. Rickwood Field is the oldest surviving professional baseball park in the country and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Sitting on 12.7 acres, the park was the first concrete and steel stadium in the minor leagues.

The Friends of Rickwood is an organization that has taken care of the historic park since 1992 and they are currently restoring it as a “working museum.”

1137 Second Avenue W, Birmingham, Alabama, Phone: 205-458-8161

The Birmingham Zoo is a zoological park that sits on 122 acres of land. Opened in 1955, the zoo began with just a few exotic animals kept in a firehouse. Today the zoo contains some 950 animals that represent more than 230 species from six continents.

Some of the many animals include bobcats, elephants, giraffes, orangutans, rhinoceroses, tigers, and zebras. Some of the animals are endangered and some are very exotic such as the double-wattled cassowary, the Komodo dragon, and the red panda. The zoo is known for its strong conservation efforts as well as its numerous education outreach programs and is one of the best things to do in Birmingham, Alabama.

2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, Alabama, Phone: 205-879-0409