National Historic Landmark

Sloss Blast Furnace Site

Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Listed
June 21, 1972
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
72000162

About this property

Sloss Furnaces is a National Historic Landmark in Birmingham, Alabama in the United States. It operated as a pig iron-producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971. After closing, it became one of the first industrial sites (and the only blast furnace) in the U.S. to be preserved and restored for public use. In 1981, the furnaces were designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior. The site currently serves as an interpretive museum of industry and hosts a metal arts program. It also serves as a concert and festival venue. A new visitor center was built in 2015 and opened in 2016. The furnace site, along a wide strip of land reserved in Birmingham's original city plan for railroads and industry, hosts students through their education programs. The museum is free to visit.

Location

1st Ave. at 32nd St.
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
33.52064, -86.79092

Categories

INDUSTRYENGINEERING
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.

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Everything a full report reveals about Sloss Blast Furnace Site

This page lists Sloss Blast Furnace Site. 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.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Downtown Birmingham Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.4 mi
Southside Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
East End Baptist Church
Modern
0.6 mi
Morris Avenue-First Avenue North Historic District
Listed
0.6 mi
Manchester Terrace
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Elyton (AL) – Wilson's Raid
1865Civil War
0.7 mi
Wilson's Raid — Elyton (Birmingham) Engagement
1865Civil War
1.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Sloss Blast Furnace Site listed on the National Register?

Sloss Blast Furnace Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Sloss Blast Furnace Site?

Sloss Blast Furnace Site is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Sloss Blast Furnace Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Sloss Blast Furnace Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Sloss Blast Furnace Site?

The period of significance for Sloss Blast Furnace Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Sloss Blast Furnace Site?

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 Sloss Blast Furnace Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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