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Home , Alabama Splash Adventure, Alabama Theatre, Birmingham Zoo, History of Birmingham, Lane Park, McWane Science Center

HISTORY OF

Founded in 1871 at the crossing of two railroad lines, the city blossomed through the early 1900s as it rapidly became the South’s foremost industrial center. Iron and production were a natural for Birmingham; underground lay abundant key ingredients—coal, iron ore and limestone. As an industry town, Birmingham suffered greatly in the Depression. After World War II the city grew moderately while retaining its strong Southern character.

At the same time a profound movement toward diversification was afoot. The huffing and puffing of Birmingham’s legendary iron and steel mills was gradually replaced by a work force of medical and engineering professionals. Today, Birmingham enjoys a balance of manufacturing and service-oriented jobs in a thriving work force.

Civil Rights

Long known as a city of civil rights conflict and reconciliation, Birmingham has matured into a city that acknowledges and embraces the impact of our past, both negative and positive. Opened in the 1990s, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a moving and educational example of how a city found a way to heal itself. Looking at the city today, there is little evidence of the scarring, though it will always be with us. Today’s social scene is the picture of diversity as well, with folks of all ethnic backgrounds enjoying and learning from one another, arguing issues of the day, and sharing professional and social time together in an era that has made the old days almost invisible.

FUN FACTS about Birmingham

Birmingham’s world-class musical talent has put the city in the national spotlight with two winners from the mega hit TV show American Idol. Ruben Studdard won in 2003 and Taylor Hicks came home with top honors in 2006. In between, Birmingham’s Bo Bice won first runner- up in the 2005 competition. Vulcan, the mythical god of metalworking, is the largest cast iron statue in the world and is second in size only to the Statue of Liberty. The statue was Birmingham’s entry in the 1904 World’s Fair, where it won first place. Displaying more than 1,200 vintage and modern motorcycles and racecars and the largest collection of Lotus cars, Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses the largest collection of its kind in the world. The adjacent is considered the “Augusta of Motorsports,” referring to the quality of the world-class course and home of the Porsche Sport Driving School.

HOW FAR AWAY IS BIRMINGHAM FROM…?

Pittsburgh, PA ...... 753 miles Washington DC ...... 743 miles Chicago, IL ...... 663 miles St. Louis, MO ...... 500 miles Atlanta, GA ...... 147 miles Charlotte, NC……………………………………………………………………………………………….390 miles Panama City, FL ………………………………………………………………………………………..... 267 miles Minneapolis, MN …………………………………………………………………………………..…….1,073 miles Nashville, TN ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 192 miles New , NY …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 963 miles Portland, ME ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,281 miles Reach Headquarters in Galeton, CO ...... 1,315 miles

Why does Birmingham need a workcamp?

Birmingham was founded in 1871 at the crossing of two railroad lines, the city blossomed through the early 1900s as it rapidly became the South’s foremost industrial center. Iron and steel production were a natural for Birmingham; underground lay abundant key ingredients—coal, iron ore and limestone. As an industry town, Birmingham suffered greatly in the Depression. After World War II the city grew moderately while retaining its strong Southern character.

Birmingham is the largest city in with the metro area population of 1,000,000. Of this population 30% are living at or below the poverty line. Reach Workcamp will supply the volunteers needed to help these individual homeowners with much needed repairs. Approximately 1000+ homes annually are in desperate need of some type of repair. Currently we are only able to reach 100 each year.

AT A GLANCE HOTELS

• Poverty Rate: 30% Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham • Population (2014): 212,247 Downtown • 33.5207⁰ North, 86.8025⁰ West 2021 Park Pl, Birmingham, AL 35203 • Land area: 148.6 sq., miles Phone Number: (205) 322-2100 • Elevation: 643’ http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/ala • Median Household Income: (2011) 32K bama/hampton-inn-and-suites-birmingham-

downtown

WEB PAGE INFORMATION Holiday Inn Express & Suites Inverness http://www.greaterbirminghamchanmbers.org 156 Resource Center Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35242 http://www.bcri.org Phone Number: (205) 776-6370 https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels /us/en/birmingham/ CLOSEST AIRPORT

Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) Candlewood Suites Birmingham – Hoover 5900 Messer Airport Hwy 600 Corporate Ridge Dr, Birmingham, AL 35242 Birmingham, AL 35212 Phone: (205) 991-0272 Phone Number: (810) 235-6560 https://www.ihg.com/candlewood/hotels/us/en /birmingham/

PRE-/POST-WORKCAMP ACTIVITIES

Birmingham, AL This is a list of activities that your youth group may be interested in doing either prior to the workcamp or after the camp.

1. Birmingham Botanical Gardens 6. 2612 Rd 4599 Splash Adventure Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35223 Bessemer, AL 35022 http://www.bbgardens.org/ http://www.alabamasplash.com/

2. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 7. Red Mountain Park 520 16th Street N 2011 Frankfurt Dr. Birmingham, AL 35203 Birmingham, AL 35211 http://www.bcri.org/index.html http://redmountainpark.org/

3. McWane Science Center 8. Little River Canyon National 200 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203 Preserve http://www.mcwane.org/ 4322 Little River Trail NE #100, Fort Payne, AL 35967 4. https://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm 1817 3rd Ave N Birmingham, AL 35203 9. Noccalula Falls Park 1500 Noccalula Rd http://alabamatheatre.com/ Gadsden, AL 35904

http://www.noccalulafallspark.com/ 5. Ruffner Mountian Nature Preserve

1214 81st St S, Birmingham, AL 35206 https://ruffnermountain.org/

WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIVES

Birmingham, AL

Your youth group will have Wednesday afternoon of the workcamp week free. Here are some possible activities that your group may be interested in.

1. Locked In: The Birmingham Escape Game 2808 7th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233 http://birmingham.lockedin.com/

2. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum 6030 Barber Motorsports Parkway, Birmingham, AL http://www.barbermuseum.org/

3. Birmingham 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223 https://www.birminghamzoo.com/

4. 5th Ave N & 16th Street, Birmingham, AL 35203 https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/al10.htm

5. Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 1631 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203 http://www.jazzhall.com/

6. Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 2150 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N Birmingham, AL 35203 http://ashof.org/

7. Railroad Park 1600 1st Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233 http://www.railroadpark.org/index.php

8. Aldridge Botanical Gardens 3530 Lorna Rd, Hoover, AL 35216 http://aldridgegardens.com/

9. Adventure Park at Grants Mill 5405 Beacon Dr, Irondale, AL 35210 http://www.grantsmillstation.com/ LOCAL RESTAURANTS

Birmingham, AL

Each youth group will have Wednesday afternoon of the workcamp week free. This is a list of restaurants that a youth group may be interested in visiting in the community.

1. El Barrio Restaurante Y Bar 5. John’s City Diner 2211 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, 112 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, AL 35203 Birmingham, AL 35203 205-868-3737 205-322-6014 Menu: Menu: http://elbarriobirmingham.com/m http://www.johnscitydiner.com/ enus/lunch-dinner/ menu/

2. Yo’ Mama’s 6. Urban Cookhouse 2328 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, 2846 18th St S, Birmingham, AL AL 35203 35209 205-957-6545 205-879-0883 Menu: Menu: http://www.yomamasrestaurant.c http://places.singleplatform.com/ om/food/ urban-cookhouse/menu

3. Dreamland Bar-B-Que 7. Eagles Restaurant 1427 14th Ave S, Birmingham, 2610 16th St N, Birmingham, AL AL 35205 35204 205-933-2133 205-320-0099 Menu: Menu: http://places.singleplatform.com/ http://places.singleplatform.com/ dreamland-barbecue/menu eagles-restaurant/menu

4. Saw’s Soul Kitchen 215 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 8. Fife’s Restaurant 35222 2321 4th Ave N, Birmingham, 205-591-1409 AL 35203 Menu: 205-254-9167 http://www.sawsbbq.com/menu- Menu: http://fifes- category/homewood-restaurant- restaurant.cafes-city.com menu