Heaviest Corner on Earth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Heaviest Corner on Earth
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Birmingham, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | William C. Weston |
| Architectural style | Chicago, The Commercial Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001502 |
| Added to NRHP | July 11, 1985 |
The Heaviest Corner on Earth is a special nickname. It was given to a street corner in Birmingham, Alabama, in the early 1900s. This corner is where 20th Street and 1st Avenue North meet.
The name came about because four very tall buildings were built there around the same time. These buildings were some of the tallest in the Southern U.S. They were the 10-story Woodward Building (built in 1902), the 16-story Brown Marx Building (1906), the 16-story Empire Building (1909), and the 21-story American Trust and Savings Bank Building (1912).
Contents
A Corner of Giants: How the Name Began
The idea of this corner being "heavy" started in 1911. A magazine called Jemison Magazine published an article. It was titled "Birmingham to Have the Heaviest Corner in the South."
Over time, people started to exaggerate this claim. They began calling it the "Heaviest Corner on Earth." This fun and catchy name has stuck ever since. It's still a popular way to refer to these impressive buildings.
Recognizing a Historic Spot
This unique corner is important to Birmingham's history. On May 23, 1985, a special marker was placed there. It stands on the sidewalk outside the Empire Building.
The marker tells the story of these four buildings. It was put up by the Birmingham Historical Society. They worked with a group called Operation New Birmingham.
National Recognition for Historic Buildings
The buildings at the Heaviest Corner are very special. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
Three of the buildings were listed individually in 1982 and 1983. Then, on July 11, 1985, all four buildings together were listed as a historic district. This means the whole group is recognized as a significant historical area.
Images for kids
-
Top of the Empire Building in 2016
