Editing Birmingham, Alabama (section)

==Culture==
{{See also|List of songs about Birmingham, Alabama}}

Birmingham is the cultural and entertainment capital of Alabama with numerous art galleries in the area including the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]], the largest art museum in the Southeast. Downtown Birmingham is currently experiencing a cultural and economic rejuvenation, with several new independent shops and restaurants opening in the area. Birmingham is also home to the state's major ballet, opera, and symphony orchestra companies such the [[Alabama Ballet]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alabamaballet.org |title=Alabama Ballet |work=alabamaballet.org |access-date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra]], [[Birmingham Ballet]], [[Birmingham Concert Chorale]], and [[Opera Birmingham]].

[[File:Alabama Theatre.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Alabama Theatre]], 2010]]
*The [[Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs]] was established in Birmingham in 1895.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Thomas McAdory |title=History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography |year=1921 |volume=1 |publisher=S. J. Clarke publishing Company |language=en |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZEkUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA574 |page=574|chapter=Federation of Women's Clubs, The Alabama |access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref>
*The historic [[Alabama Theatre]] hosts film screenings, concerts and performances.
*The [[Alys Stephens Center]] for the Performing Arts is home to [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra]] and [[Opera Birmingham]] as well as several series of concerts and lectures. It is located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
*The [[Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex]] (BJCC), houses a theater, concert hall, exhibition halls, and a sports and concert arena. The BJCC is home to the [[Birmingham Children's Theatre]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bct123.org |title=bct123.org |publisher=bct123.org |access-date=July 14, 2012}}</ref> one of the oldest and largest children's theatres in the country, and hosts major concert tours and sporting events. Adjacent to the BJCC is the [[Sheraton Birmingham]], the largest hotel in the state. A new [[Westin Hotel]] anchors the nearby Uptown entertainment district of downtown Birmingham, which opened in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Work-kicks-up-at-Westin-Hotel/vTTv6MfqykeZ4lZljljlgw.cspx?rss=1659 |title=Work kicks up at Westin Hotel&nbsp;– CBS 42 Birmingham, AL News Weather Sports |publisher=Cbs42.com |date=October 20, 2011 |access-date=July 14, 2012 |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730232952/http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Work-kicks-up-at-Westin-Hotel/vTTv6MfqykeZ4lZljljlgw.cspx?rss=1659 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*The historic [[Carver Theatre (Birmingham, Alabama)|Carver Theatre]], home of the [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]], offers concerts, plays, jazz classes (free to any resident of the state of Alabama) and many other events in the Historic 4th Avenue District, near the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]].
*The [[Birmingham Public Library]], the downtown hub of a 40-branch metro library system, presents programs for children and adults.
*[[Boutwell Auditorium]] (formerly Municipal Auditorium) is located at Linn Park.
*[[Oak Mountain Amphitheater]] is a large outdoor venue with two stages, located in the [[suburb]] of [[Pelham, Alabama|Pelham]] just south of Birmingham.

Other entertainment venues in the area include:
*[[Birmingham CrossPlex]]/[[Fair Park Arena]], on the west side of town, hosts sporting events, local concerts and community programs.
*Workplay,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.workplay.com |title=workplay.com |publisher=workplay.com |access-date=July 14, 2012}}</ref> located in the Southside community, is a multi-purpose facility with offices, audio and film production space, a lounge, and a theater and concert stage for visiting artists and film screenings.
*[[Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival]], a celebration of new independent cinema in downtown Birmingham, was named one of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's "Film Festivals for the Rest of Us" in the June 5, 2006, issue.
*The Wright Center Concert Hall, a 2,500-seat facility at [[Samford University]], is home to the [[Birmingham Ballet]].

Birmingham's nightlife is primarily clustered around Five Points South and Lakeview. In addition, a $55-million "Uptown" entertainment district has recently opened adjacent to the BJCC featuring a number of restaurants and a Westin hotel.

The Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cultural-alliance.com/ |title=cultural-alliance.com |publisher=cultural-alliance.com |access-date=July 14, 2012}}</ref> maintains Birmingham365.org,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://birmingham365.org/ |title=birmingham365.org |publisher=birmingham365.org |access-date=July 14, 2012}}</ref> "a one-stop source for finding out what's going on where around" Birmingham.

===Museums===
Birmingham is home to several museums. The largest is the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]], which is also the largest municipal art museum in the Southeast. The area's history museums include the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]], which houses a detailed and emotionally charged narrative exhibit putting Birmingham's history into the context of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. It is located on [[Kelly Ingram Park]] adjacent to the 16th Street Baptist Church.

Other history museums include the [[Southern Museum of Flight]], Bessemer Hall of History,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bhamrails.info/bess_hall_hist.htm |title=bhamrails.info |publisher=bhamrails.info |access-date=July 14, 2012 |archive-date=December 5, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041205134014/http://www.bhamrails.info/bess_hall_hist.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Sloss Furnaces]] National Historic Landmark, [[Alabama Museum of Health Sciences]], and the [[Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens|Arlington Home]].

The [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]] is housed in the historic [[Carver Theatre (Birmingham, Alabama)|Carver Theatre]], and offers exhibits about the numerous notable jazz musicians from the state of Alabama.

The [[McWane Science Center]] is a regional science museum with hands-on science exhibits, temporary exhibitions, and an [[IMAX]] dome theater. The center also houses a major collection of fossil specimens for use by researchers. Other unique museums include the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame; the [[Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum]], which contains the largest collection of motorcycles in the world; the Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama at [[Tannehill Ironworks|Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park]], near [[McCalla, Alabama|McCalla]]; the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]; and the [[Talladega Superspeedway]] International Motorsports Hall of Fame museum.

South of downtown, on [[Red Mountain (Alabama)|Red Mountain]], Vulcan Park features the world's largest cast iron [[Vulcan statue|statue]], depicting Vulcan at his forge. It was cast for the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition|1904 St. Louis Exposition]], and erected at Vulcan Park in 1938.

===Festivals===
[[File:Sloss Furnaces Birmingham.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Sloss Furnaces]]]]

Birmingham is home to numerous cultural festivals showcasing music, films, and regional heritage. Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival brings filmmakers from all over the world to Birmingham to have their films viewed and judged. This festival usually is scheduled in late August at eight venues around downtown. Screenings are concentrated at the Alabama Theatre.

Another musical festival is the [[Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival]], presented at the end of August each year, concurrent with the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. This all day festival features national and local jazz acts. In 2007, the festival drew an estimated 6,000 people. The Birmingham Folk Festival is an annual event held since 2006. It moved to [[Avondale (Birmingham, Alabama)|Avondale Park]] in 2008. In 2009 the festival featured nine local bands and three touring "headliner bands".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birminghamfolkfestival.com |title=ファッション通信 |work=birminghamfolkfestival.com |access-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20081007211333/http://www.birminghamfolkfestival.com/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:JoeMinter'sAfricanVillageInAmerica1.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Joe Minter's ''African Village in America'' is a half-acre [[visionary environments|visionary art environment]] near downtown Birmingham.]]

The [[Southern Heritage Festival]] began in the 1960s as a music, arts, and entertainment festival for the African-American community to attract mostly younger demographics. [[Do Dah Day]] is an annual pet parade held around the end of May. The Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil, an annual music festival event held in May to benefit local charities, always includes an all-star cast of talent. It typically draws more than 30,000 spectators for the annual two-day event. The annual Greek Festival, a celebration of Greek heritage, culture, and especially cuisine, is a charity fundraiser hosted by the [[Greek Orthodox]] [[Holy Trinity - Holy Cross Cathedral]]. The Greek Festival draws 20,000 patrons annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.holytrinity-holycross.org/greekfestival.html |title=holytrinity-holycross.org |publisher=holytrinity-holycross.org |access-date=July 14, 2012}}</ref> The Lebanese Food Festival is held at St. Elias Maronite Church. Magic City Brewfest is an annual festival benefiting local grassroots organization, Free the Hops, and focusing on craft beer. Alabama Bound is an annual book and author fair that celebrates Alabama authors and publishers. Hosted by the Birmingham Public Library, it is an occasion when fans may meet their favorite authors, buy their books, and hear them read from and talk about their work. Book signings follow each presentation.

===Other attractions===
{{see also|List of public art in Birmingham, Alabama}}
[[File:Vulcan statue.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Vulcan statue]] on a pedestal in Vulcan Park atop Red Mountain]]

The [[Vulcan statue]] is a cast iron representation of the Roman god of fire, iron, and blacksmiths that is the symbol of Birmingham. The statue stands high above the city looking down from a tower at the top of [[Red Mountain (Birmingham)|Red Mountain]]. Open to visitors, the tower offers views of the city below. The [[Birmingham Zoo]] is a large regional zoo with more than 700 animals and an interactive children's zoo.

The [[Birmingham Botanical Gardens (USA)|Birmingham Botanical Gardens]] is a 67-acre (270,000&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) park displaying a wide variety of plants in interpretive gardens, including formal rose gardens, tropical greenhouses, and a large Japanese garden. The facility also includes a white-tablecloth restaurant, meeting rooms, and an extensive reference library. It is complemented by Hoover's {{convert|30|acre|m2|adj=on}} [[Aldridge Botanical Gardens]], an ambitious project open since 2002.  [[Splash Adventure]] (formerly VisionLand and Alabama Adventure) in Bessemer serves as the Birmingham area's water and theme park, featuring numerous slides, and water-themed attractions.

[[Kelly Ingram Park]] is the site of notable civil rights protests; the park is adjacent to the historic [[16th Street Baptist Church]]. [[Railroad Park]] opened in 2010 in downtown Birmingham's Railroad Reservation District. Oak Mountain State Park is about {{convert|10|mi|km}} south of Birmingham. Red Mountain is one of the southernmost wrinkles in the Appalachian chain, and a scenic drive to the top provides views reminiscent of the [[Great Smoky Mountains]] further north. To the west of the city is located Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, a {{convert|1500|acre|km2|adj=on}} Civil War site which includes the well-preserved ruins of the [[Tannehill Ironworks|Tannehill Iron Furnaces]] and the John Wesley Hall Grist Mill.

[[The Summit (Birmingham)|The Summit]] is an upscale [[lifestyle center (retail)|lifestyle center]] with many stores and restaurants. It is located in Southeast Birmingham off of U.S. Highway 280, parallel to Interstate 459.