Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, Birmingham

If you're at all interested by industrial history, Sloss Furnace is a great place to go. I recommend go to visitors center first, get the self-guided tour map and start walking. You'll understand better how the iron-making process works a bit better. Each stop on the tour has signs with more details. Small gift shop with crafted metal curios, T-shirts, books hats, and also bathrooms at the visitor center.

I love this place since I first visited about 15 years ago. Change happens but overall I like it even more now. It is safer, cleaner, and the self guided tour is to the point. Yes, I know a lot more anecdotes and explored a lot more places but this is a well presented industrial museum. Go, bring your camera and imagine the heat, noise, and toil.

My family was pleasantly surprised with this visit. The visitor's center was clean, bright, and full of helpful history. The young lady at the front desk was helpful and even recommended other things to do in the area. We did the self-guided tour, which was interesting and a lot of fun. I wouldn't take young kids here. My college-age sons found it fascinating.

What a fascinating find! My friend heard good things and booked a Friday morning tour for us. We were running late driving north and couldn’t cross the railroad tracks because a train was just chilling in front of us (apparently that happens a lot) so we called and were directed to go over a nearby bridge. Slight detour so budget a few extra minutes in case! Our tour guide Ty was really knowledgeable and engaging, with great energy. He answered all our questions and took us through the history of industry in Birmingham, and how Sloss cranked out pig iron in its heydays. Touched on environmental, social and racial issues as well, which gave a lot of depth to our tour. Afterwards we were free to explore the area, which apparently makes it one of 3 sites like this in the world to offer such an intimate experience (other 2 in Mexico and Germany). The facilities are well kept and the history well preserved. You can tell the staff really care about the work they do. The small exhibit in the building is worth checking out too if you wanted to see a video of the old machines in action. Walking around the grounds does something to you—the machines, the stories, the process. Makes you wonder who the people were behind the back-breaking labor and the profits. Leaves much to the imagination and provokes you to think. I highly recommend everyone get a chance to experience this tour if they’re in the city. You’ll learn something new you never expected to learn.

Awesome experience at one of Americas iron furnaces. I was really impressed with the amount of areas you can walk through and get to see so much of the grounds. Definitely a must go if you are in the area. Plan to spend at leave 1.5 hours here and when you are done stop in at Back Forty for drinks and food for excellent dusk views of the furnaces.