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I enjoyed my recent visit to Sloss Furnaces (04/19/25). Although I wasn't here very long, I appreciated the beauty of this historical landmark. A group that I am involved with , the bham babes had their annual picnic here. The grounds are well managed and the sculptures I saw were amazing! I highly recommend planning a visit here. Per their website, they offer guided tours Tues-Sat 10:30-2:00. I definitely plan on returning to learn more about the history of Birmingham, Al.
Evening at Sloss = magical Loved the atmosphere, the lighting was perfect for pics, and it's truly a hidden gem in downtown Birmingham. Keep it in mind for your events!
Took my mom to the annual dia de los muertos celebration put on by Bare Hands on November 2, 2024 at Sloss Furnaces. The last time I was at Sloss was about 10 years ago when they still put on a huge haunted house. Crazy to see the same location with a completely different atmosphere. Nov 2 is my mom's birthday and the anniversary of my dad's death, so the festival was the perfect was to honor both in a respectful way. The ofrendas were all so beautiful, it makes me want to put one in my home. Some people went all out on the makeup and costumes, and the parade and performances were really fun to watch. The food was delicious! Authentic Mexican food isn't easy to find in Alabama, but the tacos we had were as authentic as I've ever had (lived in El Paso,TX for several years)
My coworkers and I were treated to a team building exercise at Sloss Furnace. I didn't know that they offered tours of the site and we were allowed to participate in a metal art class. They offer other unique classes too like bowl making. You can check out their events page for more information. For the metal art class, they give you a block of really hard sand and then you basically draw and then trace your design. They also give you instruments to help you create your art. Once done, you get to see them pouring the hot iron into your "sand box," which was pretty cool to witness. Now you do have to wait a couple of hours (I think approximately 2) for your design to fully set. During this time, we took the guided tour. I learned so much about Sloss and the workers and how some chose to stay on onsite with their families. I can't imagine that especially with all of the fumes and hot temperatures. The Sloss Furnace has some very interesting facts and our tour guide was so patient with us and very educated about its history. He was awesome and super nice (sorry can't remember his name). Definitely you could bring your family and/or a nice date... they even have concerts and festivals. Definitely check them out and visit soon.
Sloss is a great event space, especially during the Springtime. I came for the Magic City Mimosa festival and the weather was perfect, making it a great day to walk around and mingle. There's a pond in the middle with a pretty big fountain that sprayed water on ya if you sat too close to the shore. There's also a stage for concerts or a dj and there were tables setup for eating and drinks. I found a cozy spot in the shade to settle down and sip. The grounds were well maintained so I didn't have trouble making my way through the grass or dealing with bugs. There were plenty of food trucks and vendors along the back fence, which gave guests a variety of options. I'd like to come back and see the space during a nighttime
Here for the Food+Fire event. There is a good number of local businesses here and some out of state showcasing samples of their food. You will get full! I tried ribs from Dreamland and Helen, corn from Aww shucks, pork tenderloin from Socu and beer from Ferus. There were many other options to try food from. This is the first year of the event and I am sure it will grow in years to come.
For explorers and photographers, this is a great spot. I took a lot of cool photos and probably should have spent more time there. I did take the tour (which I arranged by email on the website). Tyler helped me coordinate the tour and was extremely helpful. Tours are 10 dollars. That being said, I'm not sure the tour was totally worth it. It was extremely technical. I think there might be an audio tour available, and the guided tour didn't offer much that you can't get from that, or reading the plaques, or some brief online reading. Still worth a stop. There is a visitors center and gift shop on site. The site itself is free to visit.
This is such a cool historical site. There is a lot about the history of Birmingham and how coal and steel revitalized the industry after the revolutionary war. The site is very well preserved and you can explore most of the complex.
Stopped by this awesome historic park this weekend while visiting Birmingham. I've always heard the place was haunted, so it was on my to do list. Unfortunately, we were unable to walk around and explore due to the park being over capacity. The nice lady who worked the gates allowed us to go in and take a few photos if we promised to come right back out. Such a kind thing so I didn't have to leave without seeing it! They have festivals, music, parties and lots of history. Don't miss this massive site!
"Sips and Strokes on steroids". This is one of the coolest things I've done in Birmingham. Did you know there are artists at Sloss who are dedicated to making and supporting the metal arts community? These artists have a passion for preserving and cultivating the original iron making processes. They use time tested techniques to transform our natural resources into pig iron. The group is organized as a non-profit named Sloss Metal Arts (www.slossmetalarts.com). Sloss Metal Arts offers workshops where anyone can come and design their own iron creation. It is a hands on experience where you start with a basic cast. I made a bowl. The artist explained how you take your vision and transfer it to the cast. Using their tools you carve your design into the cast. Next, you get to see the blast furnaces in action. The walking tour is fine, but this is an amazing demonstration of the casting and iron making process. I did the workshop as a work team-building activity, but it would be great for individuals or any group. It was a fascinating learning experience. We should never take our natural resources for granted. For me, seeing the working furnace made me appreciate how critical this region was to the Industrial Revolution. Go to the Sloss Metal Arts website for dates and cost of the workshops. I think this is definitely a BHM bucket list item.
There's always great events here at Sloss Furnaces! From Sloss Fest, to Sloss Fright Fest, to Taco Fest. It's a great outdoor area to host events. Parking can be little scarce here so be prepared for a bit of a walk.
I HIGHLY recommend taking the tour with Tyler! Sloss was awesome and worth visiting! Tyler did a fabulous job explaining the history and relevance of Sloss. He was very knowledgeable, nice, and patient. The tour was only $10 a person and is a great value.
This is a pretty cool landmark in Birmingham and I can't believe it took me this long to visit. I know they are open during the day and for special events, but they also have guided tour events for which you can purchase tickets. My wife got us some tickets for the "Ghost Tour" at night during a full moon. The docent who guided us is a historian and expert on the history of the furnaces, as well as some of the industrial accidents that lead to Sloss Furnance being "haunted". Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the tour was fun, informative, and the furnace at night under a full moon has as industrial beauty that had many people on the tour taking photos. I think we will be getting tickets for some more tours.
2 months ago
I wish I could share more about this place, but unfortunately it was closed on Monday -- the only day we were in Birmingham. Since we couldn't go inside, I decided to walk across the nearby bridge to at least get a view from a distance. When it's closed, there really isn't a way to get much closer, so you're limited to exterior views only. From the photos and reviews others have posted, it looks like a really cool and educational spot, especially if you're interested in industrial history. It seems like the tours give you a great glimpse into what factory life looked like back when it was one of the biggest steel suppliers in the U.S. Knowing it operated for around 90 years before shutting down in 1971 makes it even more fascinating. Even though I didn't get the full experience, the scale of the structures and the history behind the site were still impressive from afar. I'd definitely plan to return on a day they're open to properly explore it -- it looks like a unique and worthwhile stop if you're in town. read more
I enjoyed my recent visit to Sloss Furnaces (04/19/25). Although I wasn't here very long, I appreciated the beauty of this historical landmark. A group that I am involved with , the bham babes had their annual picnic here. The grounds are well managed and the sculptures I saw were amazing! I highly recommend planning a visit here. Per their website, they offer guided tours Tues-Sat 10:30-2:00. I definitely plan on returning to learn more about the history of Birmingham, Al. read more
Took my mom to the annual dia de los muertos celebration put on by Bare Hands on November 2, 2024 at Sloss Furnaces. The last time I was at Sloss was about 10 years ago when they still put on a huge haunted house. Crazy to see the same location with a completely different atmosphere. Nov 2 is my mom's birthday and the anniversary of my dad's death, so the festival was the perfect was to honor both in a respectful way. The ofrendas were all so beautiful, it makes me want to put one in my home. Some people went all out on the makeup and costumes, and the parade and performances were really fun to watch. The food was delicious! Authentic Mexican food isn't easy to find in Alabama, but the tacos we had were as authentic as I've ever had (lived in El Paso,TX for several years) read more
My coworkers and I were treated to a team building exercise at Sloss Furnace. I didn't know that they offered tours of the site and we were allowed to participate in a metal art class. They offer other unique classes too like bowl making. You can check out their events page for more information. For the metal art class, they give you a block of really hard sand and then you basically draw and then trace your design. They also give you instruments to help you create your art. Once done, you get to see them pouring the hot iron into your "sand box," which was pretty cool to witness. Now you do have to wait a couple of hours (I think approximately 2) for your design to fully set. During this time, we took the guided tour. I learned so much about Sloss and the workers and how some chose to stay on onsite with their families. I can't imagine that especially with all of the fumes and hot temperatures. The Sloss Furnace has some very interesting facts and our tour guide was so patient with us and very educated about its history. He was awesome and super nice (sorry can't remember his name). Definitely you could bring your family and/or a nice date... they even have concerts and festivals. Definitely check them out and visit soon. read more
3 years ago
Sloss is a great event space, especially during the Springtime. I came for the Magic City Mimosa festival and the weather was perfect, making it a great day to walk around and mingle. There's a pond in the middle with a pretty big fountain that sprayed water on ya if you sat too close to the shore. There's also a stage for concerts or a dj and there were tables setup for eating and drinks. I found a cozy spot in the shade to settle down and sip. The grounds were well maintained so I didn't have trouble making my way through the grass or dealing with bugs. There were plenty of food trucks and vendors along the back fence, which gave guests a variety of options. I'd like to come back and see the space during a nighttime read more
Here for the Food+Fire event. There is a good number of local businesses here and some out of state showcasing samples of their food. You will get full! I tried ribs from Dreamland and Helen, corn from Aww shucks, pork tenderloin from Socu and beer from Ferus. There were many other options to try food from. This is the first year of the event and I am sure it will grow in years to come. read more
For explorers and photographers, this is a great spot. I took a lot of cool photos and probably should have spent more time there. I did take the tour (which I arranged by email on the website). Tyler helped me coordinate the tour and was extremely helpful. Tours are 10 dollars. That being said, I'm not sure the tour was totally worth it. It was extremely technical. I think there might be an audio tour available, and the guided tour didn't offer much that you can't get from that, or reading the plaques, or some brief online reading. Still worth a stop. There is a visitors center and gift shop on site. The site itself is free to visit. read more
2 years ago
This is such a cool historical site. There is a lot about the history of Birmingham and how coal and steel revitalized the industry after the revolutionary war. The site is very well preserved and you can explore most of the complex. read more
5 years ago
Stopped by this awesome historic park this weekend while visiting Birmingham. I've always heard the place was haunted, so it was on my to do list. Unfortunately, we were unable to walk around and explore due to the park being over capacity. The nice lady who worked the gates allowed us to go in and take a few photos if we promised to come right back out. Such a kind thing so I didn't have to leave without seeing it! They have festivals, music, parties and lots of history. Don't miss this massive site! read more
1 year ago
"Sips and Strokes on steroids". This is one of the coolest things I've done in Birmingham. Did you know there are artists at Sloss who are dedicated to making and supporting the metal arts community? These artists have a passion for preserving and cultivating the original iron making processes. They use time tested techniques to transform our natural resources into pig iron. The group is organized as a non-profit named Sloss Metal Arts (www.slossmetalarts.com). Sloss Metal Arts offers workshops where anyone can come and design their own iron creation. It is a hands on experience where you start with a basic cast. I made a bowl. The artist explained how you take your vision and transfer it to the cast. Using their tools you carve your design into the cast. Next, you get to see the blast furnaces in action. The walking tour is fine, but this is an amazing demonstration of the casting and iron making process. I did the workshop as a work team-building activity, but it would be great for individuals or any group. It was a fascinating learning experience. We should never take our natural resources for granted. For me, seeing the working furnace made me appreciate how critical this region was to the Industrial Revolution. Go to the Sloss Metal Arts website for dates and cost of the workshops. I think this is definitely a BHM bucket list item. read more
There's always great events here at Sloss Furnaces! From Sloss Fest, to Sloss Fright Fest, to Taco Fest. It's a great outdoor area to host events. Parking can be little scarce here so be prepared for a bit of a walk. read more
4 years ago
I HIGHLY recommend taking the tour with Tyler! Sloss was awesome and worth visiting! Tyler did a fabulous job explaining the history and relevance of Sloss. He was very knowledgeable, nice, and patient. The tour was only $10 a person and is a great value. read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
This is a pretty cool landmark in Birmingham and I can't believe it took me this long to visit. I know they are open during the day and for special events, but they also have guided tour events for which you can purchase tickets. My wife got us some tickets for the "Ghost Tour" at night during a full moon. The docent who guided us is a historian and expert on the history of the furnaces, as well as some of the industrial accidents that lead to Sloss Furnance being "haunted". Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the tour was fun, informative, and the furnace at night under a full moon has as industrial beauty that had many people on the tour taking photos. I think we will be getting tickets for some more tours. read more
Awesome dose of history! Besides the many nooks and crannies to take pictures, I thought the accompany pamphlet given to us when we checked in at the visitors center was great. The numbered areas on the self-guided map gave a brief but detailed description of each major part of this pig iron plant. I'm a history and architecture buff, so I found the working process fascinating all the way from the giant buckets of mined rock that escalated from the train cars in the giant buckets dumbed into the huge furnaces that melted the rocks, separating the sediment and iron, to the liquid iron being poured into the big casts that resembled a pig's nipples - thus the nickname pig iron was started. I highly suggest you make a stop at this national historic landmark if you like learning about life in Birmingham in the late 1800s through the 20th century. read more
I've wanted to visit Sloss Furnaces for a long time. This industrial complex, featuring two 40-ton blast furnaces, is preserved in all its gargantuan glory. Decay in any form has its own natural beauty and is as photogenic as the most beautiful model. Sloss is no exception. Bring your camera and capture the countless haunting images that await you at every turn. Birmingham should be congratulated for having the foresight to preserve and not bulldoze an incredible example of its industrial past. More cities should embrace its relics and turn them into places of discovery and fascination. On my first visit, the day was blazingly sunny with deep blue skies. My second visit was on a morning of pending rainstorms and hail. I couldn't get enough and planned a third visit but it was closed for a special event. Sloss hosts events and concerts. It has a metal arts program and, if I moved to Birmingham, I'd enroll here in a heartbeat. The gift shop has the usual t-shirts -- I got one of those -- and works made by the folks in the program. Excitement got the best of me as I walked out with two book ends weighing 16 pounds of thick black steel. This complex is one reason I came to really like Birmingham. I want to come back and visit Sloss again. read more
4 years ago
Fun place to walk around for kids and adults. Rich in history and beautiful back grounds for photos. read more
If an industrial complex or furnaces ever was a thing of beauty look no further than right here. The wherewithal the steadfast people who preserved this place should be praised ! It's like walking in a time machine viewing the ancient structures taking many photos of the rust colored steps and tunnels. Really didn't expect to have such a great experience that day. Do yourself a favor watch the dated old fifteen minute film to give some insight it what awaits your self guided tour. Imagine the hardships of the men who tolled their lives day in and day out providing for families. What it would be to see the blackened sky lit up orange from all that hell and fury from furnaces. Truly a sight to behold if you lived near by in town. read more
3 years ago
Sloss Furnaces is a cross between urban exploration and a tourist site. It is one of Birmingham's iconic landmarks that has lasted over the years, and I hope that it continues to stay that way. With no admission and a giant theme-park size factory to explore, you can easily spend an afternoon here learning about the history of the furnaces. Start with the ten minute welcome video and learn about the impact it's had with the city. Afterwards, begin your free self-guided tour through the maze of rust and pipes. There are some pretty epic spots inside for great photos so look around, up and down, inside and out. If you need to take a break, there are some lovely seating areas here at the Welcome Center. They even offer some nice views of the city in the distance, so I'd even come back with a book and hot coffee. Anybody can enjoy the furnaces but it can be tight and dirty inside. Make sure that kids are watched as the entire area can be intimidating. Private lot parking is available. read more
9 years ago
My school used the meeting area for a professional development day for us as a change of scenery from where we normally meet. Sloss is usually closed on Mondays, but they graciously welcomed us with open arms at this event. The rich history that Sloss offers is 2nd to none and the curator did an excellent job speaking about it during her introduction. I can tell she is very passionate about preserving its legacy. The grounds were very serene, despite the trains that were close by in the area. I liked the small waterfall area. I would love to go back to embark on the tour that was offered but due to time constraints we were not able to partake in. Thank you Sloss for being such hospitable hosts and for providing such a unique backdrop for our workshop. read more
This is the stuff of steampunk dreams! Sloss Furnaces is definitely worth a wander when in Birmingham. Free admission, a self-guided tour brochure to orient you to what you're seeing, lots of interesting history of Magic City's iron industry, and plentiful spots for moody photos. read more
8 years ago
All the amazing reviews tell you why you need to visit this place. All I am going to say is: If in Birmingham, must visit here. Take your camera/phone with you and click away!! read more
You've seen them on Ghost Adventures, and while Zak might be full of crap, this place is full of history and lingering feelings. When I found out I was going to Sloss, I was thrilled. I've been wanting to see this place first hand, and there it was, rising on the horizon - 10 minutes away from my hotel. The first thing you see is the water tower, with the big block letters declaring the name, and then the wrought iron fences. We were given a preview of what to expect, told not to climb on things and let go at will.. The place is CREEPY, even in the full daylight, there were odd things, odd sensations on the skin, etc. But the way light fell through windows and arced in dusty strands against the defunct machinery was coldly beautiful. Seeing new life of green shoots sprouting against the red brick was stunning. Wet pools of black water seemed endless, and shards of glass on a window sill seem.. errie. Is the place haunted? In my perception, yes. but that's my own experience. I know what I felt, heard and saw, but your millage may vary. read more
Where do I even start? Visiting Floss was definitely the most interesting and bizarre thing I did on my visit to Birmingham! The Furnaces is a National Historic Monument just outside downtown. It is a pig iron-producing blast furnace that was operated from 1882 to 1971. It is the only blast furnace in the U.S. to be preserved and restored for public use. It's free and open to the public. And you can wander around and read information about the history of the furnaces and Birmingham. It's pretty amazing. And highly photographable - so bring your cameras! Biggest con? Pretty unsafe. NOT a place to take kids. There is rusting iron everywhere and things that seem like they should be roped off aren't. One of the coolest place I've ever been! read more
12 years ago
Noel, Tony and I headed over to the Sloss Furnace National Historic Site while in Birmingham. We were too late for the final tour but I was able to walk around a get a few photos and find out information..next trip to Birmingham we are going on this amazing tour.. History: Sloss received National Historic Landmark designation in 1981 and opened its gates in September 1983, as a museum of the City of Birmingham. Its collection consists of two 400-ton blast furnaces and some forty other buildings. Nothing remains of the original furnace complex. The oldest building on the site dates from 1902 and houses the eight steam-driven "blowing-engines" used to provide air for combustion in the furnaces. The engines themselves date from the period 1900-1902 and are a unique and important collection--engines such as these powered America's Industrial Revolution. The boilers, installed in 1906 and 1914, produced steam for the site until it closed in 1970. Between 1927 and 1931 the plant underwent a concentrated program of mechanization. Most of its major operation equipment--the blast furnaces and the charging and casting machinery-was replaced at this time. In 1927-28, the two furnaces were rebuilt, enlarged, and refitted with mechanical charging equipment, doubling the plant's production capacity. While the site strongly reflects the changes made from 1927-1931, some of the technology is more current. The company built a dehumidification plant during World War II to reduce consumption of coke. Use of the system was discontinued when the war ended, but the building and equipment remain. In the late 1940s the company two slag granulators to produce the "expanded slag" needed to make structural concrete, mineral wool and other products. Finally, in 1949 and 1951 the company replaced the old blowing engines with two-turbo blowers. Sloss is currently the only twentieth-century blast furnace in the U.S. being preserved and interpreted as an historic industrial site. The dramatic scale and complexity of the plant's industrial structure, machines and tools make the Sloss collection a unique contribution to the interpretation of twentieth-century ironmaking technology and presents a remarkable perspective on the era when America grew to world industrial dominance. At the same time, Sloss is an important reminder of the hopes and struggles of the people who worked in the industries that made some men wealthy, and Birmingham the "Magic City TOUR INFORMATION: read more
A visit to Birmingham should include a visit to Sloss Furnace to learn about the history of city. Birmingham was named the "Magic City" during the late 19th/early 20th century when access to nearby coal and iron ores, coupled its geographical location spurred the growth of iron furnaces in the city. Sloss Furnace operated between 1882-1970 and is a historic site operated by the City of Birmingham. At the closure of the furnace, it remained dormant for years as the city debated what to do with the area - demolish the site and create an amusement park? Re-district for another purpose? Fortunately, wiser arguments prevailed and the City of Birmingham decided to preserve the site. As others have mentioned, start your tour at the Visitor's Center where you watch a tasteful and historic 15 minute DVD about the history of Birmingham and Sloss Furnace and embark on the self-guided tour. The sheer size and enormity of the furnace and realization that they were built in the early 20th century is simply amazing. As I walked throughout the empty site, I could only imagine the toil the men that worked in the furnace endured. Though not mentioned in the video or literatures, the conditions in the furnaces (or the mines) were hellacious. The DVD and writings make it seem that it better than reality. Workers were blacks or recent immigrants and they were indentured to the companies. I leisurely walked through site and thoroughly enjoyed my visit. The photo opportunities are many - unfortunately, I do not have the artistic eye to be able to properly frame the shots. However, for those that do, you will have a field day. Located on the southern edge of Birmingham, it's a great way to learn about the history of the "Magic City." The best part? Admission is free! Stop by the small gift shop and pick up some "pig iron" artwork. read more
7 years ago
Attended Pridefest 2019 here and it was set up very nice. I volunteered with work to pass out information regarding LGBT veteran experiences at the VA and then I enjoyed the festivities myself. I love that the vendors were set up under the overpass bcus rain was in the forecast. The drag shows were also under a covered area. That also made it beams of the sun avoidable. Always a nice event here. I throughly enjoyed attending and volunteering at my first Pridefest. The bathroom stayed amazing clean. The cleaning staff did awesome. The only negative I have is hearing the same city workers that came around collecting food and vendor items from us later sitting on a bench saying homophobic comments towards the men and vulgar comments towards the women. I don't know who was responsible for the cleaning staff but the selection of who works pride events should be selected carefully. read more
8 years ago
A must see if you are in Birmingham! This is a u okie piece of history which proudly showcases the beginnings of the community well before it was what we now know it to be. Part industry, part history and part art this place is a step back into time and a step forward into the future. Make sure you visit the visitor center before you walk around and check out the short video it will make the entire site mean more as you walk around. This place is a photography gold mine! read more
If you want to know more about the history of Alabama and how we became the iron city here this is a must. Take a tour of Sloss Furnace and see first hand what they had to work through and endure. Also for their age in time technology was pretty good. See up close all buildings in smelting process and what the long hard process we go through to get metal we use today so often and take advantage where it came from. Rich history here and Sloss is a landmark and can use your support! Great picture possibilities if you love photography of antique equipment and machinery. Really enjoyed my visit. Be sure to be able to climb stairs and uneven surfaces as like I said it's what they went through and endured daily some underground some above ground. Was a great visit will be back. Update!! Was back again for Breakin Bread if you have not been to this event in 15 years of having it I suggest you go and go VIP for unlimited food and drinks!! Yes even a VIP lounge where food is brought to you while enjoying history of Sloss surroundings. See you at Fright Furnace soon!! read more
9 years ago
Great place for some photography, but little else. Three people behind the desk, barely greeted customers and kept gift shop locked. When I asked some questions one of the employees finally perked up and offered some information. You can do the scavenger hunt, but if stuck they will only offer a "employees found it too hard" answer. With some enthusiastuc employees, this site could match up with the great marketing and education the website offers. read more
Really cool place to have an event. We had a dinner here as part of a conference. I love historic sites, and Sloss was no exception. Really beautiful outdoor space, and I especially liked the character wandering around. read more
10 years ago
This place is awesome. I can't believe you can actually go up in here and climb around. And by the way, this place is BIG. Easily, you can spend an afternoon here if your little girl or boy has an interest in anything industrial. It's perfect safe, although a few stretches will make you nervous. Hold their hands! I enjoyed my time passing through here romping around like a kiddo. Every now and again you turn a corner and spot a lively green plant blooming inside some old block of rust. Bring your Nikon. You'll go snap happy. Inside, don't skip out on the introductory video. It's only 10 minutes and it'll give you the gist of what you need to know. Can you believe it's free? read more
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