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Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

Explore Birmingham's industrial heritage at Sloss Furnaces, a unique National Historic Landmark offering a glimpse into the Magic City's past.

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Step back in time at Sloss Furnaces, a preserved 20th-century blast furnace in Birmingham, Alabama. Once a major pig iron producer, it now stands as a unique industrial museum, offering self-guided tours and hosting metal arts programs and events [3, 9]. Explore the historic site and discover Birmingham's industrial heritage [8, 10].

A brief summary to Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

  • Tuesday 10 am-4 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-4 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-4 pm

Local tips

  • Wear closed-toe shoes for exploring the industrial site, as the ground can be uneven [5].
  • Allow at least 1-2 hours for a self-guided tour to fully experience the site [5].
  • Check the Sloss Furnaces website for upcoming events, concerts, and festivals [3].
  • Consider complementing your visit with a trip to the nearby Vulcan Park and Museum for a greater understanding of Birmingham's steel industry [5].
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Getting There

  • Walking

    Sloss Furnaces is located at 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222. If you are in the Central City area, particularly near downtown Birmingham, walking is a viable option. From the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, head east on 6th Ave N, then turn right onto 32nd St N. Continue for about half a mile; Sloss Furnaces will be on your left. Note that the terrain within the Sloss Furnaces site is uneven, so wear appropriate footwear [5]. Admission and parking are free [5].

  • Public Transport

    MAX Transit, Birmingham's public transportation system, offers bus service to the vicinity of Sloss Furnaces [21, 24]. Bus routes 100, 25, and 20 have stops near Sloss Furnaces [20, 22]. From downtown Birmingham, check the MAX Transit schedule for the most convenient route and stop. The closest bus stops are 'Sloss Furnance (Ib)' [20, 22]. A single ride fare is $1.50, and an all-day pass is available for $3 [24].

  • Ride Share

    Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available in Birmingham. From Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, a ride to Sloss Furnaces will cost approximately $15-$25, depending on traffic and demand [24]. The journey typically takes 15-20 minutes. Simply enter 'Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark' as your destination in the app.

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Discover more about Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, located in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama, offers a captivating glimpse into the city's industrial past [3, 9]. From 1882 to 1971, Sloss Furnaces operated as a pig iron-producing blast furnace, playing a vital role in Birmingham's rapid growth and earning it the nickname 'The Magic City' [3, 8, 10]. Today, it stands as one of the first industrial sites in the U.S. to be preserved for public use and the only 20th-century blast furnace to be interpreted as a museum [4, 9, 16]. Visitors can explore the 32-acre complex on a self-guided tour, wandering through the maze of machinery, towering blast furnaces, and various industrial structures [3, 12, 17]. Informative signs and a self-guided tour brochure explain the iron-making process and the stories of the workers who labored here [11, 12]. Guided tours are also available for a more in-depth experience [3, 11]. Sloss Furnaces also hosts a metal arts program, offering workshops and exhibitions [4, 17]. Sloss Furnaces isn't just a museum; it's also a vibrant cultural center [3]. Throughout the year, the site hosts concerts, festivals, weddings, and corporate events, drawing people from all over the community [3, 14, 17]. Its unique industrial backdrop creates a memorable setting for any occasion [3].

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