Fourth Avenue Historic District
National Register of Historic Places

Fourth Avenue Historic District

Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Listed
February 11, 1982
Type
District
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
82002041

About this property

The Fourth Avenue Historic District in Birmingham, Alabama was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The listing included 17 contributing buildings on 4.2 acres (1.7 ha). It includes the 1600–1800 blocks of 4th Ave., N. and part of the 300 blocks of 17th and 18th Sts., N. One reason that it was deemed significant is that the district "is the only place left in the city which tells the story of the Jim Crow years in Birmingham (1908–1941). Prohibited from patronizing white restaurants, movie theaters, and personal service establishments, blacks developed businesses in those areas to serve their community. They also offered professional services (medical and legal) to the black community. Although now somewhat diminished by the demolition of some structures and the dispersal of black life that has come with integration and suburban expansion, important structures remain which document what was once the center of commercial activity in black Birmingham." It includes works by architects Robert R. Taylor, Louis H. Persley, Walter T. Woods and others. The area features Art Deco architecture and commercial Victorian architecture. Alabama Penny Savings Bank, (or Pythian Temple), which was already separately listed on the National Register. Colored Masonic Temple (1922; or 'Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge'), a seven-story building

Location

1600--1800 blks of 4th Ave. N and part of the 300 blks of 17th and 18th Sts. N
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
33.51491, -86.81183

Categories

COMMERCEBLACKARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Fourth Avenue Historic District

This page lists Fourth Avenue Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Fourth Avenue Historic District report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Alabama Penny Savings Bank
Civil War
0.1 mi
West Park
Listed
0.1 mi
Fire Station No. 6
Industrial
0.2 mi
Gaston, A.G., Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
Fox Building
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fourth Avenue Historic District listed on the National Register?

Fourth Avenue Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 11, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Fourth Avenue Historic District?

Fourth Avenue Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fourth Avenue Historic District?

The period of significance for Fourth Avenue Historic District is recorded as the civil_war era.

Can I research the history near Fourth Avenue Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fourth Avenue Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Jefferson County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Jefferson County.

Explore JeffersonCounty ›

More historic places in Alabama

Browse all historic places in Alabama.

View Alabamahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Alabama history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Alabamahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Fourth Avenue Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report