Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens, the city's only antebellum mansion, offers tours featuring its collection of 19th-century furniture and decorative arts. The building is a grand example of the Greek Revival architecture that was prominent in the 1840s. A tearoom is available, and the gardens are a beautiful site and backdrop for weddings and other special events. Call ahead for admission details.
Located in the heart of the city, The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex is the primary meeting facility for large events, conferences, and conventions. It covers a complex of 220,000 square feet of exhibition space and state of the art facilities. Several of Birmingham's best hotels are located within 15 minutes of The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex and The Birmingham International Airport. Whether it is a tour, event, exhibition or just a reunion, this is a good event space.
Cradled in Downtown Birmingham, the Civil Right District is the center point of the state's long-standing history. The very site where several important events of the Civil Rights Movement were birthed, this historic district sprawls across six blocks. The district has witnessed many of the most significant happenstances of the Birmingham arm of the movement, including the fateful bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. Kelly Ingram Park, which is also a part of the district, was the location of many demonstrations during the Civil Rights Movement. Numerous sculptures in the park commemorate the historical protests. Some of the most important sites in the district include the statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Carver Theater, which has now been transformed into a live music venue, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Harboring several historical sites, the Civil Rights District reads out America's most significant chapter out loud.
See more than 1000 different animal species from around the globe, from the Siberian tiger to the San Esteban Island chuckwalla. Of course, there are lions, tigers and bears, as well as giraffes, geckos, a white rhinoceros and gorillas. If your feet get tired, hop aboard the Zoo Express Train. ZooSnoozes, their overnight camping program, is available by reservation. Also, check out the zoo's many classes, which are fit for visitors of all ages.
Started off solely to entertain the masses, Workplay entertainment complex houses the Workplay Theatre where you get best of entertainment. Concerts and theater performances apart, this place can also be rented for business meeting purposes, corporate events, and private parties as well. Deemed as multi-purpose, Workplay Theatre rarely lets anybody down. Workplay Theatre delivers services that are matched by few.
Located in the historic Carver Theatre in the Civil Rights District, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame started in 1978 as a tribute to the truly American music form. Many beloved jazz musicians got their start in Alabama, and a surprising number of these came from Birmingham. In the early 20th Century, Birmingham was a training ground for these famed musicians. See exhibits devoted to such greats as Lionel Hampton, Erskine Hawkins, Nat King Cole and Sun Ra. You can choose to tour all by yourself, or take a guided tour.