Soon after, a restoration effort was launched, a huge undertaking to restore Vulcan to his original glory and make him accessible to the public once again. The Vulcan Park Foundation worked tirelessly to raise the funds needed, and succeeded, taking in $15.5 million and forming public-private partnerships that got him back on his feet in 2004, and created the lovely park and educational museum that make up Vulcan Park & Museum today. He’s a wonder to see, and the observation tower built alongside him has stunning city views in all directions. But he’s not the only thing to experience at Vulcan Park & Museum. The 10-acre park surrounding the statue is a relaxing spot for a stroll; a shady walking trail traverses its perimeter. And inside the museum, the story of Birmingham is revealed. It is a tale of mining and metal working, of making use of the unique combination of natural resources needed to make iron that were found in the city, and of a boom in industry that grew Birmingham from a collection of mining towns into a metropolis seemingly overnight and earned it the appropriate nickname, “The Magic City.”
GOING UP? Vulcan Park & Museum is a great spot to enjoy the outdoors this summer. Walk the shady 1-mile trail, enjoy the beautiful green spaces of the park and get your heart pumping with a trek up the many steps to the top of Vulcan’s observation tower. Learn more at visitvulcan.com.
HIS STORY / hist( )rē/ e
BUT TIME TOOK A HARD TOLL ON THE MIGHTY MAN. His seams began to crack, and it was becoming clear that major repairs were needed. In 1991, a report found that his structural integrity had been compromised, and in 1999, the park was closed, and the colossus was taken off his pedestal.
1904 ARTIST GIUSEPPE MORETTI’S DESIGN ON DISPLAY AT ST. LOUIS WORLD’S FAIR.
1936 STATUE FOUND ITS HOME ATOP RED MOUNTAIN
1906-1935 VULCAN ON DISPLAY AT ALABAMA STATE FAIRGROUNDS
1999 PARK CLOSED
2004 NEW VULCAN PARK & MUSEUM OPENS