Vulcan statue, Cast iron statue on Red Mountain in Birmingham, United States.
Description
Vulcan is a cast iron sculpture rising 56 feet above a pedestal on Red Mountain in Birmingham, Alabama. The figure holds a hammer and anvil, symbols of metalworking, and stands within a park that includes a museum and observation platform.
History
After the Louisiana Purchase Exposition closed in St. Louis, the sculpture traveled back to Birmingham and was placed in different locations around the city. Workers moved it to Red Mountain in the 1930s, where it received a new sandstone pedestal and permanent home.
Culture
The figure represents Birmingham's iron industry through its material and subject, linking the city to metalworking traditions. Giuseppe Moretti shaped each section separately in Italy before workers assembled them on site in Alabama.
Practical
The park includes an observation platform with views over the city and a small museum covering local history. The site is easy to reach, though visitors should allow time to climb to the viewing deck.
Did you know?
The torch at the top glows in different colors at night and once signaled traffic fatalities in the city. Today the light serves mainly as a landmark visible across Birmingham's rooftops.
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