Vulcan, Birmingham Alabama’s colossal statue is the world’s largest cast iron statue and considered one of the most memorable works of civic art in the United States. Designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti and cast from local iron in 1904, it has overlooked the urban landscape of Alabama’s largest city since the 1930s.Located at 1701 Valley View Drive in Birmingham, Vulcan Park makes for a nice road trip stop. With a museum and trip to the top of Vulcan’s tower, you’ll enjoy scenic views of downtown Birmingham and several opportunities to educate your children about both the Industrial Revolution and the Civil Rights Era.
A nice place for a picnic or a leg stretch, you can climb to the top of the tower by way of the original staircase or take the express elevator to the top (this is the newer structure to the right of the tower shown in the photo below).
We enjoyed learning about the construction of the statue, including lots of giggling about his muscular backside.
Julie Henning is a freelance writer and journalist based out of Eugene, Oregon. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and owner of the family-travel website RoadTripsForFamilies.com. She is a recent past member of the Midwest Travel Writers Association and the Association for Great Lakes Outdoor Writers.
Julie is the Oregon Coast destination specialist for Bindu Media, an itinerary-focused website launching in Spring 2016 and featuring the work of 200+ professional, indie travel writers.
Julie has been published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Wisconsin State Journal, The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Illinois), the Rochester Post Bulletin, Wisconsin Natural Resources (DNR) Magazine, Sustainable Chicago Magazine, Group Tour Magazine, Student Group Tour Magazine, Silent Sports Magazine, Intercom Magazine, Roadtrippers.com, and FTF Geocacher Magazine.
Julie has appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio, Ohio Public Radio, and KCBX FM Central Coast Radio and is an affiliate producer with the Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, a National Public Radio travel podcast.
She has blogged for TravelWisconsin.com, Travel Oregon, and VISIT Milwaukee.
Julie travels with her three kids and black lab as much as possible and lives by the motto, "Not all who wander are lost." Check out some of her best work at www.juliehenning.com.
Located at 1701 Valley View Drive in Birmingham, Vulcan Park makes for a nice road trip stop. With a museum and trip to the top of Vulcan’s tower, you’ll enjoy scenic views of downtown Birmingham and several opportunities to educate your children about both the Industrial Revolution and the Civil Rights Era.
We enjoyed learning about the construction of the statue, including lots of giggling about his muscular backside.
