This marker, which was placed in 1985 by the Birmingham Historical Society, is cool to see if you have some time to waste. It is located right outside of Birmingham's Empire Building. There is metered street parking available on the street adjacent to the marker. There is not much to it. It is definitely not a destination trip. There is a lot of other quick sights to see in the area that could be incorporated with this marker as part of a larger itinerary. I am not sure how true the claim is and pretty sure that not many people care. It is still an ok place to check out though.
The designation of Heaviest Corner on Earth comes from the nearly simultaneous construction of four of the tallest buildings in the South, the Woodward Building, Brown Marx Building, Empire Building, and the American Trust and Savings Bank Building. At the time of they construction, their height and mass was so impressive that the intersection they are located, First Avenue North and 20th Street, was proclaimed the heaviest corner on earth. I have been to New York and Chicago and I am almost positive that proclamation does not hold true today. Fun fact: The buildings, as a group, was listed as a historic district in 1985. read more