Red Mountain (Birmingham) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Red Mountain
Birmingham as viewed from the highest point along Red Mountain.
Highest point
Elevation	1,025 ft (312 m)
Geography
Red Mountain Location in Alabama
Parent range	Cahaba Ridges
Topo map	USGS Birmingham South
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Red Mountain is a long ridge (a long, narrow hill) that runs through Alabama. It divides two valleys, Jones Valley and Shades Valley, near Birmingham, Alabama. This mountain is part of the Appalachian Mountains, specifically the Ridge-and-Valley area.

The mountain gets its name "Red Mountain" from its rust-colored rocks. These rocks contain a lot of red hematite iron ore. For many years, mines on Red Mountain provided iron ore for Birmingham's iron factories. Today, many television and radio stations have their tall broadcast towers on Red Mountain. It is also home to Red Mountain Park, a very large urban park covering about 1,500 acres (6.1 km2).

The Story of Red Mountain: How It Shaped Birmingham

Red Mountain played a huge role in Birmingham's growth. The mountain had lots of iron ore. Nearby, there was also coal and limestone. These three things are key ingredients for making iron. This made Birmingham a perfect spot for industry.

Early Mining and the Civil War

Mining for iron ore on Red Mountain started in the early 1860s. This was during the American Civil War. Iron was needed to support the Confederate war efforts. In 1865, the Union army destroyed the iron factories nearby. After this, mining on Red Mountain stopped for a short time.

Iron Production After the War

After the Civil War, iron production started again. This time, it was for business, not just war. Leaders like Debardeleben, Sloss, and Woodward helped restart the mines. Red Mountain became a symbol of wealth for the area. Its resources brought prosperity to the region.

From Mines to Mansions

As Birmingham grew, the abandoned mine sites became popular places. Wealthy families built large homes there. These homes offered cool breezes and amazing views. They were high above the smoky industrial city. One famous home belonged to Alex Harvey "Rick" Woodward. His house is now owned by the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It serves as the university president's residence.

The End of Mining on Red Mountain

Over time, making steel became more modern. Labor costs went up. Also, it became harder to reach the ore deep inside the mountain. It was cheaper to buy iron ore from other places. The last iron ore mine on Red Mountain closed in 1962. It was run by US Steel. The very last ore mine in the Birmingham area closed in 1972.

Vulcan Statue: A Symbol of Iron

In 1938, a giant statue was placed on Red Mountain. It is a cast-iron statue of Vulcan. Vulcan was the Roman god of the forge (metalworking). This statue represented Birmingham at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. It is the largest cast-iron statue in the world.

Red Mountain is also a natural high point. It is home to many of Birmingham's radio and television stations. It also hosts a well-known private restaurant called "The Club."

The Red Mountain Expressway Cut: A Window into Time

In 1970, the "Red Mountain Expressway" was finished. This highway cut right through Red Mountain. It connected Birmingham to its southern suburbs. This helped the suburbs grow. The cut also revealed amazing geological layers. These layers show millions of years of Earth's history. You can even see the red ore seam that helped Birmingham grow. Scientists found a new type of ancient sea creature, a trilobite, in the rocks here. They named it Acaste birminghamensis.

Neighborhoods on Red Mountain

Many neighborhoods are located along Red Mountain's 33-mile stretch. It goes from Sparks Gap to Trussville. Some of these areas include Raimund, Muscoda, and Redmont Park.

Redmont Park: A Historic Community

Redmont Park is just southeast of downtown Birmingham. Robert Jemison developed it in the 1920s. It became home to Birmingham's early bankers and factory owners. Today, it is one of the city's most important neighborhoods. It has many multi-million dollar homes and estates. The Altamont School, a private school known for its arts and science programs, is in Redmont Park. Saint Rose Academy, a Catholic school, is also located there.

Red Mountain Museum: Exploring the Past

A science museum called the Red Mountain Museum opened in 1971. It was on the slope next to the highway cut. Signs were put up along the cut. This allowed visitors to see the exposed rocks up close.

Fossil Discoveries and Research

From the late 1970s to 1994, the Red Mountain Museum was very active. It focused on paleontology (the study of fossils). Staff collected tens of thousands of fossils from all over Alabama. These included ancient sea reptiles called mosasaurs. They also found giant ground sloths and early whales. Many paleontologists and scientists worked or volunteered at the museum.

The Museum's New Home

The Red Mountain Museum later joined with a children's science museum. They formed "Discovery 2000." This new museum then moved downtown. It became the McWane Science Center, which opened in 1998.

In 1987, the Red Mountain Expressway Cut was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it is a very important natural site. The trail near the cut was later closed for safety reasons. The large collection of fossils from the Red Mountain Museum is now at the McWane Science Center. Scientists can still study them there. The old museum building was taken down in 2007.

Red Mountain in Books

Red Mountain has inspired writers. The fantasy writer and paleontologist Caitlín R. Kiernan has used Red Mountain in four of her novels. The mountain's geography and geology were very important to the story in her book Threshold. She even wrote about the mountain's geological history in a small book about Threshold.

Fannie Flagg's 2010 novel I Still Dream About You also features Red Mountain.