Historic Photographs of Birmingham Gallery

Birmingham is the most populous city in Alabama and is the seat of Jefferson County. Founded in 1871 in the mineral-rich Jones Valley, it quickly grew to become one of the nation's leaders in metal and iron production. Its nicknames include "Magic City" and the "Pittsburgh of the South." Birmingham was the site of pivotal events in the civil rights movement, including the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and the 1963 arrest of Martin Luther King Jr., during which he wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail."

Birmingham Mule-drawn Streetcar, ca. 1887

Birmingham Mule-drawn Streetcar, ca. 1887

Nineteenth Street North, ca. 1890

Nineteenth Street North, ca. 1890

Train to East Lake Park, 1893

Train to East Lake Park, 1893

Alabama State Fairgrounds, ca. 1906

Alabama State Fairgrounds, ca. 1906

Downtown Construction, 1913

Downtown Construction, 1913

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Choir, ca. 1917

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Choir, ca. 1917

Traffic Cop, ca. 1920

Traffic Cop, ca. 1920

Avondale Park, ca. 1925

Avondale Park, ca. 1925

Alabama Theater, ca. 1940

Alabama Theater, ca. 1940

Terminal Station

Terminal Station

Carver Theater, 1947

Carver Theater, 1947

Twentieth Street North, 1955

Twentieth Street North, 1955

Birmingham Airport Original Terminal

Birmingham Airport Original Terminal

Birmingham Mule-drawn Streetcar, ca. 1887

Citizens ride on a mule-drawn street car on First Avenue North in downtown Birmingham in 1887.

Appears In

Mules

Mules

New South Era

New South Era

Courtesy of the Birmingham Public Library Archives
Birmingham Mule-drawn Streetcar, ca. 1887

Nineteenth Street North, ca. 1890

Nineteenth Street North at Second Avenue in downtown Birmingham, ca. 1890.

Photograph by J. Horgan Jr.

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Nineteenth Street North, ca. 1890

Train to East Lake Park, 1893

A special train providing transport from downtown Birmingham to a picnic at East Lake Park in June 1893.

Photograph by O.V. Hunt

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Train to East Lake Park, 1893

Alabama State Fairgrounds, ca. 1906

A bicycle race at the Alabama State Fairgrounds in Birmingham. The statue of Vulcan, seen in the background, was erected on the grounds in 1906.

O.V. Hunt Photograph

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Alabama State Fairgrounds, ca. 1906

Downtown Construction, 1913

Construction of the Jefferson County Savings Bank in downtown Birmingham in 1913.

O.V. Hunt Photograph

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Downtown Construction, 1913

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Choir, ca. 1917

The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Choir on the steps of the church, ca. 1917.

Appears In

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church

Courtesy of the Birmingham Public Library Archives
Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Choir, ca. 1917

Traffic Cop, ca. 1920

A traffic cop on Twentieth Street North in downtown Birmingham during the early 1920s, before electric traffic lights were installed.

Photograph by O.V. Hunt

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Traffic Cop, ca. 1920

Avondale Park, ca. 1925

A concert in Avondale Park in Birmingham, ca. 1925.

O.V. Hunt Photograph

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Avondale Park, ca. 1925

Alabama Theater, ca. 1940

The Alabama Theater, a Birmingham landmark, was built in 1927 and today houses the Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Alabama Theater, ca. 1940

Terminal Station

Terminal Station was Birmingham's main railroad station from 1909 until in 1969, when it was demolished. The Magic City sign greeted travelers as they entered the city.

O.V. Hunt Photograph

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Terminal Station

Carver Theater, 1947

Historic Carver Theater, now home to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, is located in the historic Fourth Avenue district of Birmingham.

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Carver Theater, 1947

Twentieth Street North, 1955

A rainy day in 1955 on Twentieth Street North in downtown Birmingham.

Birmingham Post-Herald

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives
Twentieth Street North, 1955

Birmingham Airport Original Terminal

The first terminal at Birmingham Municipal Airport was a stately structure which stood from 1931 until the post-World War II era. It contained an emergency room and a restaurant, and rocking chairs graced the front porch.

Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives. Photograph by O.V. Hunt.
Birmingham Airport Original Terminal
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