Get involved Downtown Birmingham
Whether you’re new to Downtown Birmingham, or you just want to get more engaged in your city, we’re here to help you get started.
Discover Downtown
Heaviest Corner
Heaviest Corner
We’re historic building heavyweights.
Did you know… “The Heaviest Corner on Earth” is in Downtown Birmingham at the corner of 1st Avenue North and 20th Street. In the span of a decade in the early 20th century, four steel-frame towers rose to dwarf the city’s existing two- to four-story buildings.
SW corner: the Chicago-style Woodward Building (1902; now offices with a dermatology on the ground floor). NE corner: the Brown-Marx Building (1906; soon to be a hotel) is the last on the corner to be remodeled for modern use. NW corner: the Empire Building (1909; now The Elyton hotel) showcases terra cotta columns and ornate details. SE corner: The American Trust & Savings Building, also known as the John Hand Building (1912; now offices for Landing with residential on the upper floors), is also faced in white terra cotta is the last and tallest of the four buildings.
Railroad Park
Railroad Park
We have award-winning green space.
Did you know… Railroad Park is Downtown Birmingham’s award-winning (specifically the “Urban Open Space Award” from the Urban Land Institute) 19-acre park that runs parallel to the tracks that gave birth to the city. The park opened in 2010 but the idea of such a park had been discussed since the 1970s. Bonus fun fact: The park is 30% water, with a lake, a rain curtain, a bio-filtration wetlands area, and ponds and streams, all irrigated by onsite wells. Its native landscaping is intentionally being reflected in more public space improvement projects across downtown.
Cast-iron facades
Cast-iron facades
Beauty is all around us.
Did you know… Downtown Birmingham is home to two surviving cast iron facades: The Zinszer Building (1889) on 2nd Avenue North, pictured, and the Iron Age Building (1886) on 20th Street are two beautiful examples of how cast iron can be formed in molds to create classical columns and intricate ornamentation. Cast iron facades were popular in the mid-19th century but fell out of popularity after 1900, when it was replaced with modern steel and concrete for structural needs. We’re glad these two are still here and well cared for!
A Birmingham giant
A Birmingham giant
We have an unofficial mascot.
Did you know… Vulcan is the Roman god of fire and forge, and Birmingham’s 56-foot-tall, 100,000-pound version is a local favorite. Designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti and cast from local iron in 1904, Vulcan has overlooked Alabama’s largest city from atop Red Mountain since the 1930s. He’s a symbol of a city built on the iron industry — and his tower and the surrounding park offer amazing views of downtown.
News
Calling All Street Performers!
Birmingham has more—entertainment.
Attention performers! Downtown BHM is looking for performers for Live on 20th, a program that brings buskers and street performers to 20th St N to add vibrancy downtown.
These performances are meant to create a pleasant ambiance rather than a “concert” type performance, as passersby will be coming and going. We love seeing unique performances from music to dancing to balloon art!
Performers will be provided a battery-powered PA speaker/mixer with four input channels and a microphone. All amplified sound for the performances must go through the provided speakers.
Rules:
- no drums
- performers must use only the provided amplification (one speaker with 4 inputs) by Downtown BHM
- performers must use the provided signage and tip jar (it does have a place for all your links and socials)
- performances will take place at the date and time specified by Downtown BHM
Important details:
- performers will receive $200 base pay upon completion of their shift
- performers keep ALL TIPS received during their performance
- we carefully review all applications before reaching out to performers.
- with a large volume of submissions, we evaluate each one and select performers based on a diverse range of scheduled performances.
- there are a limited number of slots per season
- performances will take place on Wednesdays in June 2024 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to entertain our bustling lunch crowd.
- performers will be assigned a spot on 20th St N somewhere between Morris Ave. and Linn Park, but the exact location may change weekly based on what’s happening downtown
With those rules in mind, we want you to be creative! Applicants should submit through the form located to the right and expect a response from our team within a couple of weeks. We’re looking for a wide variety of performers to keep 20th Street vibrant and exciting!
What is a BUSKER? A person who entertains in a public space, like the performer below.
Live on 20th
Engage with Downtown Birmingham’s BID
A BID is designated by ordinance as a district where property owners formally pool their resources to provide supplemental services to build on those provided by the city—sidewalk sweeping, trash removal, security, special events, marketing programs, etc. It’s paid for by district property owners via a special assessment. Think of it as a homeowner’s association for a district. Those extra services can make districts more competitive by creating a cleaner, more attractive district and giving it a distinctive identity.
Learn more about the BID—including services offered, areas served, and how to engage with the BID’s board of directors—by tapping the button below!
What’s Next for Linn Park?
Linn Park’s history and geographic location at the heart of our downtown provide an opportunity to bring our community together to make Linn Park a symbol of unity.
An award-winning landscape architecture firm led a community engagement process to inform a refresh plan for the park. Click to learn more about the process thus far.
Newsletter
Stay in touch.
Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest news on the businesses, developments, events and people of Downtown Birmingham!
Find Your Place Downtown
Neighborhood Associations
Central City Neighborhood Association
Five Points South Alliance
Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association
Would you like your downtown organization or entity to be added to our list? Contact us!
Clubs
With more than 550 members, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham is the largest Kiwanis in the world and one of the oldest civic service organizations in existence.
Rotaract mobilizes its members to foster responsible citizenship and catalyze positive change by offering unparalleled opportunities to learn from diverse leaders, bond with committed young professionals, and serve the Birmingham community and beyond.
The Rotary Club of Birmingham, currently the largest Rotary Club in the world, is dedicated to serving the community of Birmingham and beyond.
The mission of United Way Hands On is to connect people with organized and meaningful volunteer opportunities to help bring about positive social change.
Young Professionals
Would you like your downtown organization or entity to be added to our list? Contact us!
Volunteer
Since 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been changing children’s lives by matching them with caring adults to guide them on a path to success.
The Dannon Project’s goal is to decrease at-risk behaviors that lead to violence, unemployment, disease, incarceration and re-incarceration, premature death, and economic exclusion cause by generational cycles of poverty. Mentorship is an integral part of the journey.
Their mission is to provide to homeless men, ages 18 and older, in the Birmingham Area a nurturing and caring environment offering supportive services that break the cycle of homelessness and empower individuals to achieve their highest potential.
A Hand in Paw volunteer strives to help fulfill our mission to improve human health and well-being through Animal-Assisted Therapy.
The Literacy Council’s mission is to improve the lives of adults and their families through literacy education that teaches people to read, write, and speak English.
One Roof is the coordinating agency for the homeless Continuum of Care of Central Alabama.
McWane offers a variety of rewarding volunteer experiences for adults who want to give back to their community, learn something new, and share their knowledge with visitors.
YWCA Central Alabama provides individuals, families, organizations, and companies with opportunities to empower others, enhance services, participate in projects and events, to collaboratively create a more caring community.
Would you like your downtown organization or entity to be added to our list? Contact us!
Use The Downtown BHM Brand
Did you know that we encourage the community to use the Downtown BHM brand to promote businesses and events downtown? Click the button below to download a ZIP file with logo files, social media graphics and suggested captions to help spread the word about Downtown Birmingham’s new look!