American Village, The P.O. Box 6, Montevallo, AL, 205-665-3535, 877-811-1776, Go back in time to the birth of our country by joining costumed historical interpreters in a village of living history. You will witness significant events that led to the birth of the nation and explore recreations of historical sites, including the President's House. more...

DeSoto Caverns Park 5181 DeSoto Caverns Parkway, Childersburg, AL 35044, 205-378-7252, Alabama’s Big Cave and more! Located near Birmingham, this incredibly unique and historic park is terrific for people of all ages. It features an Awesome Caverns tour where history and science come alive and 23 unique and fun attractions, like a crystal find, a bow & arrow shoot, a cave wall climb, and a lost trail maze. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. except for Thanksgiving & Christmas. 

Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens 331 Cotton Avenue Southwest, Birmingham, AL 35211, 205-780-5656, Arlington, the city's only antebellum mansion and now a decorative arts museum, has a fine collection of 19th century furniture, textiles, silver, and paintings. This historic site includes gardens for weddings and a tearoom for meetings and food service events.  

Bessemer Hall of History 1905 Alabama Avenue, Birmingham, AL 35211, Bessemer, 205-426-1633, A renovated Southern Railway depot houses the Bessemer Hall of History, which chronicles the history of Bessemer, Jefferson County and Alabama. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 520 16th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203, 205-328-9696, State-of-art facility housing historical events from post-World War I racial separation to present-day racial progress. 

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church 1530 Sixth Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203, 205-251-9402, The site of the most horrific occurance of the American Civil Rights Movement when a bomb shattered the quiet of a Sunday morning and took the lives of four young girls. The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church is a landmark to both man's inhumanity and capacity for love and forgiveness.  

Alabama State Fairgrounds ~ Fair Park 2331 Bessemer Road, Birmingham, AL 35208, 205-781-3782, This historical venue has been in business for nearly 60 years. The Chamber of Commerce sponsors two annual events on the grounds, the Spring Fling and Fall Fair & Festival.  more... 

Rickwood Field 1137 second avenue west, Birmingham, AL 35203, 205-458-8161, A massive restoration project is underway at this, the world's oldest ballpark, in order to create a baseball lover's treasure trove of memorabilia and nostalgia. Some of the biggest names in the game of baseball; from Babe Ruth to Willie Mays to Reggie Jackson; have played at Rickwood.  

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark (circa 1881) Twenty 32nd Street North, Birmingham, AL 35222, 205-324-1911, This museum of history and industry preserves an extraordinary collection of buildings, industrial structures, machinery, and iron art. Sloss is the only 20th century blast furnace in the country that is being preserved and interpreted as a museum. Sloss is also an unusual community gathering place and hosts a wide variety of education programs, concerts, festivals, and conferences.  

Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park 12632 Confederate Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35111, McCalla, 205-477-5711, The old Tannehill Ironworks and a large collection of 19th century cabins give visitors a glimpse into the life lived by Alabamians in the 1800s at Tannehill Historical State Park. The park has 200 improved camp sites, a train for kids, and an excellent restaurant, The Furnace Master's Inn.  

Vulcan Park 1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209, Birmingham's Red Mountain, 205-933-1409, Vulcan Park is home to the world's largest cast iron statue and features spectacular panoramic views of Birmingham. Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge, was originally built in 1904 for the St. Louis World's Fair to represent Birmingham's iron industry. He has stood as a symbol of Birmingham for over 100 years. Visitors to Vulcan Center find interactive exhibits and displays. Multipurpose function room and outdoor locations can host private events. Vulcan Park is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Vulcan Center and Tower is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 1-6 p.m. Evening hours for Vulcan Tower are daily from 6 - 10 p.m. Admission charged.  more...

Birmingham Public Library 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203-2794, 205-226-3610, This is one of the largest libraries in the Southeast. It consists of 19 branches and a main library in the city center. The main library is made up of two buildings: the East Building, with its dramatic atrium, and the 1927 Linn-Henley Research Library.  more... 

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 1631 Fourth Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203, 205-254-2731, This museum tells the story of musical greats like Sun Ra, Lionel Hampton, Nat King Cole, Erskine Hawkins, W.C. Handy, Cootie Williams, Amos Gordon, John T. Fess Whatley, and many others. Exhibits and memorabilia are displayed in the historic, art deco Carver Theater.  

Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences 1700 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35233, 3rd Floor, Lister Hill Library, 205-934-4475, This museum was established to document the growth and development of education, research, and practice in the field of health sciences in Alabama. It features surgical instruments invented by Dr. Walker Reynolds, Jr. of Alabama. more... 

Aldrich Coal Mining Museum 137 Highway 203, Birmingham, AL 35115, Montevallo, 205-665-2886, Coal mining memorabilia and equipment and a collection of vintage photographs of Aldrich during the town's peak coal mining days highlight the attractions at this museum.  more... 

Birmingham Museum of Art 2000 8th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203, 205-254-2565, The largest municipal art museum in the Southeast, the Birmingham Museum of Art features an outstanding permanent art collection of over 17,000 works of art from many diverse cultures, including European, American, Asian, and African. Don't miss the multi-level sculpture garden and the Beeson Collection of Wedgwood china. more... 

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum 1919 Ninth Street, Birmingham, AL 35040, Located in Calera, 205-668-3435, A haven for railroad buffs, this museum houses a large group of locomotives, rail cars, equipment, and other rail relics. They are displayed on museum grounds and in a 100-year-old depot.  

Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington 50 Lester Street Columbiana, Birmingham, AL 35051, 205-669-8767, Located in the Mildred Harrison Regional Library one block east of Shelby County Courthouse, this museum boasts the largest collection of George and Martha Washington memorabilia outside Mount Vernon.  

Naked Art 3815 Clairmont Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222, 205-595-3553, Naked Art is not your typical gallery. Its colorful walls and its fun and unique approach to art has caught the attention of many publications,including the cable channel Turner South and the national travel guide, Eccentric America. more... 

Samuel Ullman Museum 2150 Fifteenth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, 205-934-5634, For years, Samuel Ullman and his prose poem Youth have been known and admired by the Japanese. The Samuel Ullman Museum was created to advance Ullman's vision by examining his civic, educational, and religious ideas and endeavors. The museum provides visitors with an opportunity to explore the life of the poet and to be inspired by his work. 

Southern Museum of Flight 4343 Seventy-Third Street North, Birmingham, AL 35206, 205-833-8226, Explore the miracle of flying. Take off to the Southern Museum of Flight where visitors can view eight decades of aviation history through aircraft, models, and memorabilia of some of the greatest aviation pioneers of all time.  

Alabama Veterans Memorial P.O. Box 36972, Birmingham, AL 35236, 205-733-1066, This memorial park is 21-acres situated on a beautiful, wooded hilltop. The remarkable complex includes a modern Education Center, a fascinating historical timeline walkway, a spectacular Regiment of Columns which display stories, letters and art work cast in metal, and a temple engraved with the 11,000 names of Alabamians lost to war in the 20th Century.

Aldridge Gardens 3530 Lorna Road, Birmingham, AL 35216, Southwest of Downtown in Hoover, 205-682-8019, Aldridge Gardens is located in Hoover, Alabama, which is part of the Birmingham metro area. They are a 30-acre botanical garden specializing in hydrangeas. There is a half-mile walking trail around a 7-acre lake. Check out the Snowflake Hydrangea developed and patented by Eddie Aldridge.  more...

Birmingham Botanical Gardens 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL 35233, 205-879-1227, Located near several lodging, dining and shopping options, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens contains several gardens of roses, camellias, wildflowers, ferns, and irises that flourish in this quiet setting. Many beautiful walking trails and a Japanese garden and teahouse are additional highlights. 

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center 1214 Eighty-First Street South, Birmingham, AL 35206, 205-833-8264, Visit this 1000 acre urban nature preserve featuring hiking trails, a visitor's center, animal exhibits, and historical exhibits. Nature education programs are offered to the public.

McWane Center 200 Nineteenth Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203, 205-714-8300 or 205-714-8414, This exciting science center offers hands-on exhibits, larger-than-life IMAX films and extraordinary programs. Take a magnetic journey to a place as engaging as the human imagination. 

ZooLight Safari 2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, AL 35223, Mountain Brook, 205-879-0458, Enjoy more than 500,000 shining lights on display at the Birmingham Zoo. Walk through the zoo grounds or ride the ZooLight Express Train. Nightly musical entertainment available. Call for a schedule of crafts, animal demonstrations and games. Dinner and snacks are also available. Pre-purchased discount group tickets available.