Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The Iron Man: Vulcan

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

1. The Iron Man: Vulcan Marker

Inscription. The giant, cast iron statue you see towering above you is Vulcan, the Roman god of metalwork and the forge. The 56-foot tall statue was commissioned by Birmingham leaders to represent their new, growing city at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. After a smashing success at the fair, he was brought home to Birmingham.

Erected by Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 33° 29.502′ N, 86° 47.7′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. Marker can be reached from Valley View Drive west of Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard South. On the grounds of Vulcan Park atop of Red Mountain south of Downtown Birmignham. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham AL 35209, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Designing Vulcan Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Mineral Railroad Trestle (within shouting distance of this marker); Vulcan Statue (within shouting distance of this marker); Before Birmingham: Jones Valley (within shouting distance of this marker); A New City

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(within shouting distance of this marker); South View (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lone Pine Mine (within shouting distance of this marker); Industry (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.

Also see . . . Vulcan Park and Museum's website. (Submitted on January 8, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama.)

Sculptor Giuseppe Moretti image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

2. Sculptor Giuseppe Moretti

Sculptor Giuseppe Moretti took on the daunting assignment creating the statue in just seven months. The statue was cast by local foundry men, using iron ore taken from Red Mountain mines. Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library. Catalog # Moretti, Giuseppe

Vulcan, God Of Fire And Forge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

3. Vulcan, God Of Fire And Forge

In 2002 - 2003, after years of braving the elements, Vulcan was meticulously restored, reinforced, and returned to his pedestal.

Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, June 16, 2008

4. Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world.

Vulcan On Display At The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

5. Vulcan On Display At The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair

The statue, accompanied by a display of local minerals, was one of the most popular attractions at the fair, taking home the Grand Prize as the best exhibit in the Mineral Department. Courtesy of Missouri Historical Society

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

6. The Iron Man: Vulcan Marker

Vulcan Statue atop the 126-foot pedestal built by the WPA in 1936. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, July 28, 2006

7. Vulcan Statue atop the 126-foot pedestal built by the WPA in 1936.

Vulcan atop the tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 23, 1998

8. Vulcan atop the tower

Vulcan Post Card showing monument prior to 1969 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lester J Letson, September 11, 2004

9. Vulcan Post Card showing monument prior to 1969

This post card at the visitor center in 2004 shows the monument before the elevator was added. Access to the viewing area was by a circular stairwell inside the monument. The cascade of water can be seen between the twin stairways at the back of the monument. The cascade was removed during later renovations and is now lawn.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 23, 1998

10. Vulcan

Vulcan foot casting on display at visitor center in 1998 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 23, 1998

11. Vulcan foot casting on display at visitor center in 1998

Downtown Birmingham. The observation deck provides panoramic views of the area. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, June 16, 2008

12. Downtown Birmingham. The observation deck provides panoramic views of the area.

Entrance to the observation deck image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

13. Entrance to the observation deck

In Memory to Giuseppe Moretti image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

14. In Memory to Giuseppe Moretti

In Memory of Giuseppe Moretti Sculptor of the Statue of Vulcan AND To the following Italian stone masons and sculptors who by their skillful art and labor helped to erect the tower on which Vulcan stands to perpetuate the name of Giuseppe Moretti and the City of Birmingham Alabama.
Gene Bone • Calogero Bordenca • Martino Cantesano • Elviro Di Laura • Francesco Giovino • Salvatore Giombrone • Carmelo Raco • Francesco Mazzara • Nicola Montana • Onofrio Padalino • Pietro Scalia • Alberto Schilleci • Antonio Scozzaro Alfonso Arnone
Presented by J. J. Fiore, Pres., Italian - American Progressive Association August 1, 1937

Vulcan, god of fire and metals. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

15. Vulcan, god of fire and metals.

Vulcan, god of fire and metals. To typify the colossal mineral resources of Alabama, St. Louis Exposition, 1904. Sculptor - G. Moretti, of New York. Cast in Alabama iron by Birmingham Steel & Iron Co., J. R. McWane, Pres't., W. T. Adams, V. Pres't. Built by the Commercial Club, Birmingham, Ala., F. M. Jackson, Pres't., J. B. Gibson, Sec'y., J. A. Macknight, Special Ac't. Executive Committee: Rufus N. Rhodes, F.W. Dixon, T. G. Bush, Culpepper Exum, Geo. H. Clark. Height of Statue, 50 feet, Weight. 120000 lbs. Vulcan's Prophecy. Just as my stature towers above the sons of earth so shall the district, from whose breast the ore and coal were torn and fused to give me birth, exceed all others in "Times March." For O'er and O'er, nature hath flung her treasures with a generous hand, and Birmingham sits throned. Both hemispheres can draw on her. The mineral wealth of every land is there allied to rule the world in future years. J.H. Adams.

Vulcan Park & Tower 1938. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, January 4, 2010

16. Vulcan Park & Tower 1938.

VULCAN PARK & TOWER 1938.
Sponsored By: The Kiwanis Club & Park & Recreation Board of Birmingham built with the aid of the federal & local governments, under the direction of T.H. Joy, C.E., & R.S. Marshall, Sup't Park Board.
KIWANIS CLUB COMMITTEE. J. Mercer Barnett & T.H. Joy, Co-Ch'mn., T.L. Bissell, W.D. Moore, A.C. Montgomery, Erskine Ramsey, W.A. Currie & C.F. Wittigen.
PARK BOARD. Thomas Bowron, Karl Landgrebe, J.M. Jones, Jr., Tram Sessions, Mrs. Chas. J. Sharp & C.L. Baily.
CITY COMMISSION. J.M. Jones, Jr., Pres., Eugene Conner, J.W. Morgan.
Height of Pedestal 125 ft. Weight 2000 tons.
FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY.
Anchored by links of steel, on Red Mountain's iron vein. Our Vulcan views a city spread over hill and plain. Built, like this tower, by men whose work and skill and Birmingham's best nerve, that helped them to fulfill the prophecy he made in nineteen hundred four; our population grown since then to even ten times more who plead for art and science new victories to reveal and build a greater city with the onward march of steel. J.H. Adams.

Tower view 1998 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 23, 1998

17. Tower view 1998

Workmen in the process of removing Vulcan from his pedistal for refurbishing. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, October 1, 1999

18. Workmen in the process of removing Vulcan from his pedistal for refurbishing.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 4,214 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 8, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 5. submitted on January 17, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 6, 7. submitted on January 8, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 8. submitted on January 19, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 9. submitted on January 3, 2013, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 10, 11. submitted on January 19, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. submitted on January 8, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 17. submitted on January 19, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 18. submitted on January 19, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.