We Be Trippin': The Great DIS-nee Road Trip

[madbrad76]

Birmingham is home to several museums. The largest is the Birmingham Museum of Art, which is also the largest municipal art museum in the Southeast. The area's history museums includes Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which houses a detailed and emotionally-charged narrative exhibit putting Birmingham's history into the context of the U. S. Civil Rights Movement. It is located on Kelly Ingram Park adjacent to the 16th Street Baptist Church.


Birmingham Museum of Art

Founded in 1951, the Birmingham Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in the Southeast. More than 17,000 objects represent a rich panorama of cultures, including Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American. Highlights include the Museum’s collection of Asian art, considered the finest and most comprehensive in the Southeast, and its collection of Vietnamese ceramics, one of the finest in the world; a remarkable Kress collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from the late 13th century to the 1750s; the collection of 18th century European decorative arts, which includes superior examples of English ceramics and French furniture; and the Museum’s world-renowned collection of Wedgwood, the largest outside of England. The facility encompasses 180,000 square feet, including a splendid outdoor sculpture garden.


For more info:
Official Birmingham Museum of Art website
Birmingham Museum of Art Wikipedia page




Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a large interpretive museum and research center in Birmingham, Alabama that depicts the struggles of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The Institute is located in the Civil Rights District, which includes the historic 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, Fourth Avenue Business District, and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame located in the Carver Theatre. The Institute opened in November 1992, and had more than 25,000 visitors during its first week. The Institute shows Birmingham's pride in its history and its dedication to progress and unity for the future.


For more info:
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute website
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Wikipedia page




Kelly Ingram Park

Kelly Ingram Park is a four acre park located in Birmingham, Alabama. It is bounded by 16th and 17th Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues North in the Birmingham Civil Rights District. The park, just outside the doors of the 16th Street Baptist Church, served as a central staging ground for large-scale demonstrations during the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Reverends Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference directed the organized boycotts and protests of 1963 which centered on Kelly Ingram Park. It was here, during the first week of May 1963, that Birmingham police and firemen, under orders from Public Safety Commissioner Eugene "Bull" Connor, confronted demonstrators, many of them children, first with mass arrests and then with police dogs and firehoses. Images from those confrontations, broadcast nationwide, spurred a public outcry which turned the nation's attention to the struggle for racial equality. The demonstrations in Birmingham brought city leaders to agree to an end of public segregation.

The park was named in 1932 for local firefighter Osmond Kelly Ingram, who was the first sailor in the United States Navy to be killed in World War I.

 

[madbrad76]

McWane Science Center

The McWane Science Center is a science museum and research archive located in downtown Birmingham, Alabama (USA). The state-of-the-art science center, aquarium and 280-seat IMAX Dome Theater is housed in the historic and refurbished Loveman's department store building. It opened to the public in July 1998.

Inside are more than 9,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, including the Challenger Learning Center of Alabama, created in memory of the Space Shuttle Challenger Flight 51-L crew. The World of Water exhibit showcases more than 50 species of marine and freshwater aquatic life.

The Alabama Collections Center is the home for more than 500,000 artifacts from the former Red Mountain Museum. The center houses precious minerals, fossils and Native American artifacts. Highlights in the collection include the world's fourth-largest collection of mosasaurs; the Applachiosaurus (the Alabama Tyrannosaurus); and the state fossil of Alabama, the Basilosaurus (an 80-foot fossil whale).

The McWane Science Center is named after the McWane family and McWane, Inc. both of which helped fund the center.


For more info:
The McWane Science Center website




Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum features a collection of over 900 vintage and modern motorcycles and racecars. It is considered the largest motorsports museum in the world. The racecars include Lotus and other international race cruisers. The internationally acclaimed motorcycle collection includes bikes dating from 1904 to present production. There are bikes from 16 countries that represent over 140 different marquees from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden.


For more info:
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum website

 

[madbrad76]

Vulcan Park

South of downtown on Red Mountain is Vulcan Park which features the Vulcan statue. The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world and the symbol of Birmingham, Alabama. The 56 foot tall statue depicts the Roman god Vulcan, god of the fire and forge. It was created as Birmingham's entry for the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.

When the Exposition in St. Louis ended, the statue was dismantled and returned to its hometown of Birmingham, only to be left in pieces alongside the railroad due to unpaid freight bills. Vulcan was eventually re-erected at the Alabama State Fairgrounds, but the statue's arms were installed incorrectly, and he was without his spear, which had been lost en route from St. Louis. With nothing to hold in his hands, Vulcan soon became an advertising icon. Over the years, Vulcan held an ice cream cone, a Coca-Cola bottle, and even advertised Heinz pickles. In the late 1920s, he was disassembled for inspection. During this time, children would often play around the disassembled statue. He was repainted flesh color and reassembled in the early 1930s.

It was not until 1936 that the statue found a suitable home, thanks to the Works Progress Administration, which partially funded a new park in the city at the top of Red Mountain. A 126-foot pedestal was built of local sandstone, and Vulcan was hoisted into place. A new spear was fabricated to be held high in his right hand while his left hand held a hammer at his side. Vulcan was repainted in an aluminum like finish.

A nine day festival commenced on May 7, 1939 to dedicate Vulcan Park. Miss Evelyn Tully was crowned the Vulcan Queen. Guests of honor included the foundrymen who originally cast Vulcan. A crowd of 5,000 was present for the opening night of the festival.

To take full advantage of Vulcan's position overlooking Birmingham, the city's Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1946 made the statue into a symbol for road safety. His spear was replaced by a neon torch that glowed green, except during the 24 hours following a fatal traffic accident, when it glowed red.

To celebrate Birmingham's centennial, the area around the statue was given a $1 million facelift in 1971. The original tower was clad in Alabama marble with an elevator and observation deck added. A covered walkway also connected a gift shop and snack bar. Vulcan was repainted a rust red a few years later. Vulcan was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 6, 1976.

Unfortunately, the statue itself had, at some point, been filled up to the chest with concrete and had begun to deteriorate seriously. By 1990, an engineering study found that the statue was in danger of collapse.

Vulcan was removed during October and November 1999 in preparations for a $14 million renovation process that saw the park and pedestal restored to its original 1938 appearance. The statue sat in Vulcan Park's parking lot until the fall of 2001, when it was shipped to Robinson Iron to be repaired. The statue itself was thoroughly inspected and repaired, with some parts, including the lost spear point, re-cast. The new and restored pieces were thoroughly coated with a durable paint system, including a light-gray finish coat dubbed "Vulcan Gray" by the specifier. Vulcan was re-erected on a steel armature atop his tower during June 2003, restored to its original appearance as intended by Moretti, slightly reoriented to the east.

It is the seventh-tallest free standing statue in the United States. The completed weight of the figure alone weighs 100,000 lbs. When the anvil, block, hammer, and spearpoint are added, the statue weighs a total of 120,000 lbs and stands on a pedestal that is 123 feet tall. It has a chest circumference of 22 feet, 6 inches and a waist circumference of 18 feet, 3 inches.


Vulcan Trivia

• The statue's naked buttocks have been a source of embarrassment and humor locally. A novelty song, "Moon Over Homewood," refers to the fact that the statue "moons" the neighboring suburb of Homewood, Alabama.
• The city's entry in the World Football League, the Birmingham Vulcans were named for the statue, though many people assumed incorrectly that the nickname was a reference to the race of Vulcans on the television show Star Trek.
• George W. Bush’s foreign policy advisory team in the 2000 U.S. Presidential election was led by Birmingham native Condoleezza Rice and nicknamed themselves the Vulcans in honour of the statue, although once again many people assumed incorrectly that this was a reference to the Star Trek Vulcans.
• A rock radio station in the area goes by the moniker "105.5 The Vulcan" in honor of the statue. Likewise, the NBC television station WVTM Channel 13 references the statue in one of the letters of its callsign meaning: Vulcan. Unrelated, TM stood for Times Mirror, former owner of the station.

For more info:
Vulcan Park website

 

[Marshay]

By 1935, the Club had over 7000 members, making it the biggest Mickey Mouse Club in the world. Membership eventually peaked at over 18,000 before the Club closed almost ten years after it was formed.

Wow -- that theater is amazing! I can just see the hoity-toity folks from yesteryear in there.

Also, quite cool about the Mickey Mouse Club!

I've never seen so many motorsport bikes before!

I love, love the history of the Vulcan statue and what it held over the years and how it "moons" Homewood. Quite funny!

 

[Mrs. Fleagle]

Enjoying my trip.......loving the pics!

 

[Marshay]

Hey everyone! I know sometimes while we are riding around on the bus, we wonder what the weather is. I found this really inexpensive device that will help us out with it.

I figure we can attach this right to the side of the bus (of course, far enough away from the windows...)

 

[wotruba-disney]

McWane Science Center

How cool is that? Thanks!!

 

[Disneymommom]

I am next on the agenda, when you leave Alabama and head to Louisiana. I had a question about Alabama though. After my DH and I leave Louisiana, we have a six month move to Orlando, FL (yea sad I have to live 6 miles from Disney isn't it?) but then when that job is done we head for a really little place called Aliceville Alabama and most likely will live in Tuscaloosa, AL for four years. I loved all the pics so far and it looks like Birmingham is the place to be and I was curious if you could tell me how far that is from Tuscaloosa? I'd love to see some of those places.

You are doing a great job and I can't do nearly as well with my Louisiana report because frankly there isn't all that much in Louisiana in the first place, especially in my area of Louisiana!!!

 

[Marshay]

I have to live 6 miles from Disney

Wow!!! Really???? How very gosh darn cool! Will you be able to get a seasonal or annual pass so you can just stop in anytime you want? That would be my dream!

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Phew..... I'm all caught up finally. Thankfully the bus wasn't speeding so I was able to jog just to catch up. Who knew there was so much cool stuff to do in Alabama?

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Birmingham is also known for a bombing which occurred in late 1963, in which four black girls were killed by a bomb planted at the 16th Street Baptist Church. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing was a racially motivated terrorist attack in September 1963 by members of a Ku Klux Klan group. The bombing of the African-American church resulted in the deaths of four girls. Although city leaders had reached a settlement in May with demonstrators and started to integrate public places, not everyone agreed with ending segregation. Other acts of violence followed the settlement. The bombing increased support for people working for civil rights. It marked a turning point in the U.S. civil-rights movement of the mid-20th century and strongly contributed to support for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Wow! It's tough to remember that kind of stuff went down a mere decade before I was born!

We've come a long way!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

The historic Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama, is a movie palace built in 1927 by the Paramount-Publix Corporation.

"Movie Palace"... I like the sound of that!

Seating about 2500 people at the time, it was one of the larger movie theatres built in Birmingham

I'll say...

One of the things the Alabama was known for in its early days was its Mickey Mouse Club, which was formed in 1933. Meetings were held every Saturday, where the children would perform for each other, watch Mickey Mouse cartoons, and participate in other activities. The Club also sponsored food and toy drives for the underprivileged. By 1935, the Club had over 7000 members, making it the biggest Mickey Mouse Club in the world. Membership eventually peaked at over 18,000 before the Club closed almost ten years after it was formed.[/I][/B]

Yay for the Mickey Mouse Club!! (That was for HMFan!! )

madbrad: Way to bring us back "on topic" here on the DISboards! (As in... Nice Mickey Mouse tie-in!)

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Vulcan Park

When the Exposition in St. Louis ended, the statue was dismantled and returned to its hometown of Birmingham, only to be left in pieces alongside the railroad due to unpaid freight bills. Vulcan was eventually re-erected at the Alabama State Fairgrounds, but the statue's arms were installed incorrectly, and he was without his spear, which had been lost en route from St. Louis. With nothing to hold in his hands, Vulcan soon became an advertising icon. Over the years, Vulcan held an ice cream cone, a Coca-Cola bottle, and even advertised Heinz pickles. In the late 1920s, he was disassembled for inspection. During this time, children would often play around the disassembled statue. He was repainted flesh color and reassembled in the early 1930s.

It was not until 1936 that the statue found a suitable home, thanks to the Works Progress Administration, which partially funded a new park in the city at the top of Red Mountain. A 126-foot pedestal was built of local sandstone, and Vulcan was hoisted into place. A new spear was fabricated to be held high in his right hand while his left hand held a hammer at his side. Vulcan was repainted in an aluminum like finish.

Oh! Now that's interesting! (Great background story...)

And, you 'gotta love the great extents to which advertising folks will go!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Vulcan Park

Vulcan Trivia

*The statue's naked buttocks have been a source of embarrassment and humor locally. A novelty song, "Moon Over Homewood," refers to the fact that the statue "moons" the neighboring suburb of Homewood, Alabama.

​

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Hey everyone! I know sometimes while we are riding around on the bus, we wonder what the weather is. I found this really inexpensive device that will help us out with it.

I figure we can attach this right to the side of the bus (of course, far enough away from the windows...)

Classic, Marshay! I love it!

And, yes, far away from the windows is probably best!

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

Wow!!! Really???? How very gosh darn cool! Will you be able to get a seasonal or annual pass so you can just stop in anytime you want? That would be my dream!

I'm so with you on that, Marshay!

One day .... probably after retirement. (Then, I can pursue my Disney "dream job"! )

 

[madbrad76]

Rickwood Field

Rickwood Field, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is the oldest surviving professional baseball park in the United States. It was built for the Birmingham Barons in 1910 by industrialist and team-owner Rick Woodward and has served as the home park for the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. Though the Barons have moved their home games to the suburbs, Rickwood Field has been preserved and is undergoing gradual restoration as a "working museum" where baseball's history can be experienced. Rickwood Field is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.




For more info:
Rickwood Field Wikipedia page




College and Pro Sports

Though Birmingham has no major professional sport franchises presently, there is a very strong fan base for collegiate sports. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB Blazers) has a popular basketball program and a young football program which is growing in popularity. Birmingham is home to the Birmingham Barons, the AA minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox that plays at Regions Park. The Barons were briefly involved in a media frenzy by virtue of being the minor-league club that Michael Jordan played for in 1994 after his first retirement from the NBA. The city also hosts the Alabama Steeldogs of the Arena Football League 2.

The city is notable for having multiple pro football franchises with all of the football leagues folding or moving to a different part of the world. This included a two-time champion WFL franchise, the Birmingham Americans/Birmingham Vulcans—where the league folded. A USFL franchise, the Birmingham Stallions–once again the league folded. A WLAF franchise, the Birmingham Fire–the WLAF was renamed NFL Europa and the franchise became the Rhein Fire before the league folded altogether in 2007. A CFL franchise, the Birmingham Barracudas–the CFL decided to move all teams north of the border. An XFL franchise, the Birmingham Thunderbolts–another instance where the league has folded.

Birmingham's Legion Field

Birmingham's Legion Field has hosted several college football postseason bowl games, including the Dixie Bowl (1948-49), the Hall of Fame Classic (1977-85), the All-American Bowl (1986-90), the SEC Championship Game (1992-93), the SWAC Championship Game (1998-present), and, most recently, the Papajohns.com Bowl (2006-present). In 1996 Legion Field hosted early rounds of Olympic soccer where it drew record crowds. The field has also hosted men's and women's World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. A recent switch from natural grass to an artificial surface has left the stadium's role as a soccer venue in doubt.


For more info:
The History of Pro Sports Teams in Birmingham, AL

 

[catotigger]

Wow, Madbrad!

I love all the stuff you've shared!

I guess I'll need to drive from here to WDW sometime, and stop off in your neck of the woods!

Thanks for all your hard work collecting all the info. I'm having a great time!

 

[Mrs. Fleagle]

Wow, Madbrad!

I love all the stuff you've shared!

I guess I'll need to drive from here to WDW sometime, and stop off in your neck of the woods!

Thanks for all your hard work collecting all the info. I'm having a great time!

Ditto!

 

[Marshay]

Rickwood Field

Rickwood Field, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is the oldest surviving professional baseball park in the United States.


The city is notable for having multiple pro football franchises with all of the football leagues folding or moving to a different part of the world.

These two facts make great sports trivia history. I would have guessed that a city in the north would have the oldest baseball park...(but that just goes to show my lack of history)...also, the mnay pro-football franchises folding or moving on is interesting...guess that's why Birminghamians (I forget what they are called) love their collegiate sports!

Thanks MadBrad!