4th Avenue Historic District
Historic Black business district — Carver Theatre, civil rights era commerce
Best time
March-May (Civil Rights anniversary events), September-November
Currency
USD
Language
English
Mid-range / day
USD 120
Safety for Black Travelers
Civil rights district and downtown Birmingham are safe and tourist-friendly. The city has improved significantly in recent years. Standard awareness applies in residential neighborhoods.
Neighborhoods to Know
Southside / Lakeview
Popular restaurant and bar district, diverse young community
Five Points South
Historic arts and nightlife district
Downtown Civil Rights District
Kelly Ingram Park, 16th Street Baptist Church, BCRI — must-see complex
Must-Visit Places
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
One of the best civil rights museums in America — emotionally powerful and comprehensive
Birmingham, Alabama
16th Street Baptist Church Black-Owned
Site of the 1963 bombing that killed four little girls — still an active church and National Historic Landmark
Birmingham, Alabama
Kelly Ingram Park
Where children marched and faced fire hoses in 1963 — powerful outdoor sculptures
Birmingham, Alabama
Melting Pot Restaurant
Popular Birmingham dining
Birmingham, Alabama
Sloss Furnaces
Industrial site where Black workers labored — now a public art space and museum
Birmingham, Alabama
Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q Black-Owned
Birmingham BBQ legend — Black-owned since 1957
Birmingham, Alabama
Visa
No visa required for US citizens
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