Birmingham, Alabama was once well known for its iron and steel industry.
There was a running joke when I went off to school, that if you were from Birmingham, Alabama your Daddy worked at one of the steel mills. Not always true but, close. 😊
Though the steel mills have closed, their history will never be forgotten. Steel was the bread and butter income of many families. Sloss Furnace, now a historic landmark, was once a blast furnace producing pig iron. It was open from 1882 until 1971.
Further notoriety of the iron and steel business in Birmingham, Alabama is seen through it's permanent fixture of the cast iron statue atop Red Mountain, known as Vulcan,
Signage could have been a little better. Had to walk two blocks to the entrance
The welding I did not get to see because I didn't want to wear a sweaty welding hood
Auto darkening hood |
that unknown other people had been wearing. Icky!! 😖
I did get to see blacksmithing and the forging of a sword.
Red Mountain Makers is not only paying homage to the city's steel and iron industry. It is keeping alive many of the crafts and vocations that might otherwise be lost without those who continue to practice them.
That's it 🔥🔥🔥