2013 ~ Tuesday, September 17, Day Trip to Birmingham, Alabama

On 2013 September 17, we drove to Birmingham Alabama stopping to eat lunch at Cracker Barrel in Gardendale Alabama. 

I ordered my usual children’s plate of grilled chicken, green beans, cornbread, onion and their homemade relish.  

Back on the road headed into Birmingham, which is a little over a two-hour drive. 

We arrived at Vulcan Park at 12:52 P.M. purchasing tickets at a cost of $13.20. 

There were several historical Markers along the walkway leading up to the Vulcan and Museum.

List of the markers that we saw was:

1. Describing the designing of Vulcan Park: The Formal design, a park for people, Naturalistic features. 

2. The Iron Man: Vulcan The giant, cast iron statue you see towering above you is Vulcan, the Roman god of metalwork and forge. The 56-foot   tall statue was commissioned by Birmingham leaders to represent they're new, growing city at the 1904 St Louis World’s Fair. After a smashing success at the fair, he was brought home to Birmingham. 

3. Mineral Railroad Trestle, the railroad trestle support wall across the road is a remnant of L& N’s 156-mile Mineral railroad, the backbone of the local industry.

4. Before Birmingham: Jones Valley: Native American presence, Early settlement & Toward an iron industry

5. A New City  Building early Birmingham

6. Industry: Iron and Steel Manufacturing

7. The Lone Pine Mine: you are standing in front of the entrance to the Lone Pine Mine Number 3.

8. The Works Progress Administration

9. Birmingham district Minerals

10. Restoring Vulcan Park, visiting the park & building the park

11. The Cascade

12. South: Mountain Brook and Hollywood

13. Vulcan Park & Tower on Wall

14. In Memory of Giuseppe Moretti on wall

15. Vulcan, God of Fire and Metal

Working of the Vulcan

A statue of the Vulcan’s foot 

Inside the museum was Recipe for a city. When state geologists mapped the Birmingham District’s mineral resources in the mid-1800’s, they found great quantities of the three ingredients necessary for the manufacturing of foundry iron: coal, limestone, and iron ore. The availability of these three ingredients and the ability to recruit a large and inexpensive pool of labor made Birmingham’s industry possible. 

Some of the workers that made Birmingham, Clyde Love, Will Battle, James Knox and James Purdue.

Example of the country store was displayed, sacks of potatoes, potbelly stove and Old radio. Pictures were displayed about the building of Birmingham, the promoters, investors, and entrepreneurs.

The making of the Vulcan from scratch was displayed from Iron Casting to sand mold, plaster cast, and plaster mold to clay mold. Their much information displayed about Moretti the builder of the Vulcan.

A statue of the Vulcan’s foot was on display and a room full of,  A place of our own the fourth avenue district, Civil Rights, and the Rise of Birmingham’s Black Middle Class.

VULCAN

We exited the museum and headed to the glass elevator, which led up to the foot of the Vulcan.

It was a magnificent view of the city, you could see for miles. The only problem was when you looked down. The footing on which I was standing had holes which you could see the bottom or ground level, which frighten me. 

I stayed as close to the building as I could, but I still did not like being able to see the ground when I looked down. 

I was determined to overcome my fear so, I walked around the top of the Vulcan two times taking pictures, but I was ready to leave after that.

I did not mind the elevator, even though it had glass windows which had a different view of Birmingham.

Standing on the grate around the Vulcan 

Standing on the grate around the Vulcan 

View of the City of Birmingham from atop the Vulcan

the Vulcan Museum

View of the Vulcan from parking lot

When we got to the bottom I was glad and told that to the guard who was sitting in a chair below. 

He said I have seen many come down frightened, but one time I had a customer come down and kiss the ground when he walked out of the elevator.

Sorry, but I was glad to have my feet planted on solid ground. 

We exited the park and headed to the Birmingham Zoo. 

Tuesday is the half-price day so we got in for $15.40.

The Birmingham Zoo is your passport to trails of Africa that was what the entrance sign said.

We first saw some birds, Radiated & Aldabra, Tortoise, several different types of small cats, Red Panda, Zebra, Giraffe, a couple of elephants, a gorilla, couple of otters, few Batman characters set up for Boo at the Zoo, we went inside the birdhouse where you could feed the birds, a couple of sea lions, some snakes, and lizards. 

I was very disappointed not seeing more animals? 

We left the zoo and went to the Botanical gardens.

That morning when we started to Birmingham it was cool but by the time we got to the Botanical Gardens the heat was unbearable so we did not stay

We did go to the gift shop where I bought an ice cream cone to help cool me off.

Batman at the Zoo

Petting the Elephant

Petting the Giraffe

Walking thru the zoo

At the Entrance of the Zoo

For supper, we stopped in Cullman Alabama at Captain D’s spent $17.92.

Filled up with gas at Flying J’s cost $51.50. We were home by 7:30P.M.

We had a wonderful drive to Birmingham and the sun was setting on the drive home.

I tried to capture all the beauty with my camera.

Traveling thru Birmingham 

Road Construction in Birmingham 

Beautiful Sunset

We drove through the Birmingham work traffic & construction but once we got past Birmingham, the traffic was not too bad. 

After supper was taking our time getting home, it was relaxing.  

It was a wonderful way to end the day. 

I am waiting for my next adventure.