North Eastlake in Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
East Lake Park
Photographed by Tim Carr, January 2, 2010
1. East Lake Park Marker
East Lake was planned in 1886 by the East Lake Land Company to help sell home sites to the men who came in the 1870's to work in Birmingham's steel industry. First named Lake Como, after the lake in the Italian Alps, it soon came to be called East Lake. Using water from Roebuck Springs and Village Creek this 45 acre man - made lake, within a 100 acre park, enhanced the area by providing a year round pleasure resort.
In a short time East Lake Park became a major recreational center of the Birmingham area and in 1887 a street car line was run out to the park. Among the amusements offered at the park through the years were a ferris wheel, a shooting gallery, boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, golf, baseball, a steamboat, a zoo, and band concerts and other entertainment in the pavilion.
The City of Birmingham purchased the park in 1917 and today, East Lake Park is one of the largest municipal recreational facilities in Alabama.
Erected 1991 by Alabama Historical Commission / City of Birmingham.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers
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Location. 33° 34.224′ N, 86° 43.488′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. It is in North Eastlake. It can be reached from 1st Avenue North (U.S. 11) south of 83rd Street North. The marker is located on the east bank of the lake by the flag pole near the 1st Avenue North entrance to the park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8101 4th Ave N, Birmingham AL 35206, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ruhama Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); East Lake Community (approx. 0.6 miles away); Howard College (approx. 0.7 miles away); CDR "Snuffy" Smith (approx. 0.9 miles away); Roebuck Spring (approx. 1.2 miles away); Roebuck Springs Historic District (approx. 1.3 miles away); Zion Memorial Gardens (approx. 1.4 miles away); Wilson Chapel And Cemetery (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.
Also see . . . East Lake Park. Alabama Birding Trails website entry (Submitted on August 14, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Tim Carr, January 2, 2010
2. East Lake Park Marker
Photographed by Asher Maystein, October 30, 2011
3. Flowers for May Hawes
The Haunting of East Lake Park. Flowers are given annually to the Child of the Lake or the East Lake Mermaid on October 30th. It is said to appease her spirit and bring good luck. See the Hawes Murders of 1888. The Mermaid of East Lake can be seen by Larius Island at dusk.
Photographed by Tim Carr, January 2, 2010
4. East Lake Park
Photographed by Tim Carr, May 1, 1988
5. Arial View of East Lake Park
Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 5,202 times since then and 89 times this year. Last updated on May 29, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 20, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 3. submitted on November 2, 2011, by Asher Maystein of East Lake, Birmingham, Alabama. 4, 5. submitted on January 20, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
