Only in Birmingham can you wander around the eerie grounds of a preserved pig iron industrial site. Seriously, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark is the sole facility of its kind preserved on earth, a living snapshot of the Industrial Revolution.
The city was destined for this industry and would become the largest manufacturer of pig iron in the world. It is the only place where the three raw materials necessary for making steel naturally occur within a ten-mile radius: coal, limestone, and iron ore.
Sloss was Birmingham’s first blast furnace and it operated from 1882 to 1971 producing pig iron.
What exactly is pig iron, you might ask? Prior to the 1920s iron was molded by hand in a cast shed. When molten ore was poured into troughs the pattern looked like piglets suckling at the sow.
For years the industry prospered and Birmingham made 25% of the world’s foundry iron.
As a result of the booming industry, the city experienced a dire air pollution problem. As the world started to change, in the 1950s and 60s federal legislation pushed for the closure of outdated machinery and that meant the end after a long run for Sloss Furnaces.
Even if you have no interest in the business or historical context of the site, it is simply amazing to walk around the defunct grounds under the massive equipment.
Good to know:
+Head to the visitor center to pick up a self-guided tour brochure
+There is a short and interesting historical video to watch inside
+The site and parking is free to enter and you may wander on your own
+Sloss Metal Arts offers workshops for forging metal sculptures
+Every fall the museum turns into Sloss Fright Furnace, a haunted attraction