National Register of Historic Places

Vulcan

Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Listed
July 5, 1976
Type
Object
Period
Listed
Ref No.
76000333

About this property

The Vulcan statue (also referred to by some as The Magic Man) is the largest cast iron statue in the world, and is the city symbol of Birmingham, Alabama, United States, reflecting its roots in the iron and steel industry. The 56-foot (17 m) tall statue depicts the Roman god Vulcan, god of the fire and forge, with ironworking equipment. It was created as Birmingham's entry for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 World's Fair) in St. Louis, Missouri. While it is the world's largest made of iron, it is also among the nation's tallest statues of any kind.

Location

Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
33.49176, -86.79546

Categories

ART
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 Vulcan

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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
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Anderson Place Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Anderson Place Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.3 mi
Five Points South Historic District (Boundary Increase II)
Listed
0.3 mi
Rosedale Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
Phelan Park Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

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

Questions about this property

When was Vulcan listed on the National Register?

Vulcan was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 5, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Vulcan?

Vulcan is classified as a object in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Vulcan?

The period of significance for Vulcan is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Vulcan?

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 Vulcan will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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Alabama history

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