BIRMINGHAM, AL

Birmingham is composed of many neighborhoods and outlying areas, several of which are separate cities with their own governments and school systems. The main geographical feature of Birmingham is Red Mountain, whose iron, coal, and limestone deposits were the city's original sources of wealth and its reasons for being. Many spectacular views of the city can be enjoyed from Vulcan Park at the top of Red Mountain.

Downtown

There are many beautiful examples of early 20th-century architecture remaining from Birmingham's heyday. One of the most impressive is the Alabama Theatre, which was refurbished to its original opulence in 1998 and is now home to concerts, Broadway shows, and the annual fall Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. Nearby attractions within walking distance include the Carver Theatre (home of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame) and the McWane Science Center, including an IMAX movie theater. Also within walking distance are Linn Park (home of the historic Tutwiler Hotel), the Birmingham Museum of Art and the annual music festival, City Stages.

Downtown... more