Museums
Birmingham Museum of Art: The Birmingham Museum of Art, one of the finest regional museums in the United States, houses a diverse collection of more than 26,000 paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and decorative arts dating from ancient to modern times. The collection presents a rich panorama of cultures, featuring the Museum’s extensive holdings of Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American art. The mission of the Birmingham Museum of Art is to provide an unparalleled cultural and educational experience to a diverse community by collecting, presenting, interpreting, and preserving works of art of the highest quality.
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday, noon - 5:00 p.m.
Daily Admission: Free
2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35203
(0.4 miles from hotel)
205-254-2565
www.artsbma.org
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: BCRI is a cultural and educational research center that promotes a comprehensive understanding and appreciation for the significance of civil rights developments in Birmingham with an increasing emphasis on the international struggle for universal human rights. BCRI is a 'living institution' that views the lessons of the past as crucial to understanding our heritage and defining our future. Since opening its doors in 1992, BCRI has been visited by more than 2 million people from all 50 states and around the world. Visitors include adults, school children and students, families, researchers, and scholars.
Tours and Gift Shop are available Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Ticket Booth closes at 4:30 p.m.
Daily Admission: $12 per Adult
520 Sixteenth Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203
(1.1 miles from hotel)
866-328-9696
www.bcri.org
Vulcan Park and Museum: Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But Vulcan is more than just a statue—Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, a premier venue for private events, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!
Hours:
Museum: Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Observation Tower: Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Daily Admission: $6 per adult
Evening Admission: $4 per adult
1701 Valley View Drive
Birmingham, AL 35209
(3.9 miles from hotel)
205-933-1409
www.visitvulcan.com
Southern Museum of Flight: The Southern Museum of Flight, one of the largest aviation museums in the Southeast, is dedicated to presenting civilian, military, and experimental aircraft and memorabilia from the earliest history of powered flight. The 75,000 square foot facility houses over 90 aircraft, as well as engines, models, artifacts, photographs, and paintings. In addition, the Southern Museum of Flight is home to the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame with over 65 biographical plaques presenting Alabama aviation history through collective biography.
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed Sunday & Monday
Daily Admission: $7 per adult
4343 73rd Street North
Birmingham, AL 35206
(6.6 miles from hotel)
205-833-8226
www.southernmuseumofflight.org
Outdoor Recreation
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail: Approximately 10 miles from downtown Birmingham, the eight sites on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail span the state of Alabama from north to south. Location of courses include Hampton Cove (Huntsville), Silver Lakes (Anniston/Gadsden), Oxmoor Valley (Birmingham), Grand National (Auburn/Opelika), Cambrian Ridge (Greenville), Highland Oaks (Dothan), Magnolia Grove (Mobile), and Capitol Hill (Prattville, north of Montgomery). With 378 holes the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is the largest golf course construction project ever attempted anywhere in the world. Each facility is easily accessible by major interstates and highways and each course is within a two-hour drive of the next site. Sculpted from the peaks and valleys of the Appalachians, the courses at Oxmoor Valley offer scenic landscapes, challenging layouts, and a memorable day of golf.
100 Sunbelt Parkway,
Birmingham, AL 35211
800-949-4444
www.rtjgolf.com
Highland Park Golf Course: Approximately 1 mile from downtown Birmingham, an extensive $4.5 million renovation in 1998 transformed this beautiful course into an urban gem.
3300 Highland Avenue
Birmingham, AL 35205
205-322-1902
www.highlandparkgolf.com
Don A. Hawkins/Roebuck Municipal Golf Course: Approximately 10 miles from downtown Birmingham, this city park course stretches over acres of large terrain. One of the best bargains in the area, the facility offers challenge and economy.
8920 Roebuck Boulevard
Birmingham, AL 35206
205-836-7318
www.chronogolf.com/club/don-a-hawkins-roebuck-municipal-golf-course
Birmingham Botanical Gardens: Alabama's largest living museum with more than 12,000 different plants in its living collections. The Gardens' 67.5 acres contains 25+ unique gardens, 30+ works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of serene paths. The Gardens features the largest public horticulture library in the U.S., conservatories, a wildflower garden, two rose gardens, the Southern Living garden, and Japanese Gardens with a traditionally crafted tea house.
Hours: Gardens are open dawn to dusk daily. The Garden Center is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and most weekends.
Daily Admission: Free
2612 Lane Park Road
Birmingham, AL 35223
(4.9 miles from hotel)
205-414-3950
www.bbgardens.org
Ruffner Moutain Nature Preserve: Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve is a 1,038-acre urban nature preserve. They are one of the largest privately held urban nature preserve in the United States, and maintain over 12 miles of trails, spread throughout the mountain, open to the public for running, hiking, and general enjoyment of nature.
Hours: Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. Visitor center hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Admission: Suggested donation of $2 per person
1214 81st Street South
Birmingham, AL 35206
(8.2 miles from hotel)
205-833-8264
www.ruffnermountain.org
Self-Guided Walking Tours
The Theatre District: Walk west on 3rd Avenue and you will see a large Alabama sign. You are now in the Theatre District of Birmingham. The historic Alabama Theatre (1817 3rd Ave. N.; 205-252-2262) has been beautifully restored, so be sure to check the marquee to see if a performance is scheduled during your stay. Across the street is the Lyric Hot Dog & Grill (1808 3rd Ave. N.; 205-251-9952), which opened in 1957 and has décor similar to an old department store lunch counter. Nearby is the Lyric Theatre on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 18th Street that has not yet been restored. The Red Mountain Theatre Company (301 19th St.; 205-324-2424), with its Cabaret Theatre located in the bottom floor of the historic Kress Building, is nearby if you wish to attend a performance.
Historic 4th Avenue and the Civil Rights District: Walk north on 18th Street for one block and then turn left at 4th Avenue North and walk into Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park. It will be easy to find because you will hear Temptations music playing. Kendrick, who was born in Birmingham in 1937, added an "s" as his stage name and was a lead singer for The Temptations.
You are now in the 4th Avenue North Historic District, a place that was once the black business district. At the next corner, walk inside the visitor's center at the Urban Impact non-profit agency (319 17th St. N.; 205-328-1850). They will be happy to provide you with the history of the district. Be sure to inquire about the one-hour tour of the area.
Across the street is the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (1631 4th Ave. N.; 205-254-2731). This art-deco museum honors great jazz artists such as Nat "King" Cole, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton and Erskine Hawkins. Be sure to go upstairs and look through the window facing the Masonic Temple building where great jazz performers once played. From the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame walk cross the street to read the historic sign at the northeast corner of 17th Street North and 4th Avenue North.
Next walk one block north on 17th Street and enter Kelly Ingram Park at the corner of 17th Street North and 5th Avenue North where you will see a limestone sculpture depicting three ministers – John Thomas Porter, Nelson H. Smith and A.D. King, kneeling in prayer. You are now in the heart of Birmingham's Civil Rights District.
The four-acre park you are now walking in was the staging ground for large-scale demonstrations during the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham. Bronze statues depict the historic events.
At the opposite corner of the park, you will find a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. facing the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (1530 6th Ave. N.; 205-251-9402), where four young girls died from a Ku Klux Klan bombing. Walk inside the church and ask when the next tour starts. There are no tours on Sunday, but the congregation welcomes you to worship with them.
Across the street is the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (520 16th St. N.; 205-328-9696). Go inside to see the cell where Dr. King was imprisoned when he wrote "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," part of the museum's Civil Rights Movement experience.
From this area, walk three blocks east on 6th Avenue North to the corner of 19th Street North. Here, you will pass by another of Birmingham's historic churches, First Church (518 19th St. N.; 205-254-3186), founded in 1872.
Rickwood Field: America’s oldest ballpark is open on a
year-round basis. Visitors can pick up a brochure outside the stadium and then
take a self-guided tour that offers a remarkable level of access to the
facility. Fans are encouraged to stroll the aisles, take a seat in the
exceedingly deep depths of the dugout and even stride atop the pitcher's mound.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
1137 2nd Ave West
Birmingham, AL 35204
(4.3 miles from the hotel)
205-458-8161
www.rickwood.com