Things to do in Birmingham

With such a variety of social influences, Birmingham has become a cultural hub for the Southern United States. Archives and museums dedicated to the civil rights struggle are on display. The city's leading role in iron production has given the city a unique position, with plenty of iron statues and mouldings on display. In addition, the region's natural mountainous beauty is similar to the Smoky Mountains farther north.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

This museum opened in 1992 in the Civil Rights district, alongside the 16th street Baptist Church. The exhibits document the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and ‘60s. It functions both as an interpretive museum and a research centre, whose archives include many civil rights documents and artefacts. Website: www.bcri.org/index.html.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

These gardens cover 67 acres and a wide spectrum of plant species and interpretive presentations. Most notable are the tropical greenhouses, traditional rose gardens and the Japanese Garden. Facilities include a library, conference room and a restaurant. Website: www.bbgardens.org/.

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center

This urban nature preserve is located a mere five minutes drive from downtown and is the second largest urban nature reserve in the United States. Ruffner Mountain covers more ground than New York City's Central Park. Website: www.ruffnermountain.org/.

Vulcan statue

The Vulcan statue was built for Birmingham's entrance into the St Louis World's Fair in 1904, where it won first place. The statue stands at the centre of Vulcan Park, located on Red Mountain. At a height of 56 feet, it is the largest cast-iron statue ever made, and is second in size to the Statue of Liberty. Website: www.vulcanpark.org/.

Museum of Art

Situated in the downtown district, the Birmingham Museum of Art is the largest municipal art museum in the Southern United States. The museum's first exhibits opened in 1951, and today, the exhibits span all periods of art, with more than 21,000 pieces on display. Some of the outstanding exhibits feature Asian art and decorative arts including Wedgwood and German cast-iron. Website: www.artsbma.org/.