Sloss Furnaces

Sloss Furnaces is a former iron-making complex in Birmingham that spreads across a large industrial site with two massive blast furnaces and numerous factory buildings. The grounds display heavy machinery, networks of pipes, and structures that once powered daily metal production.

An industrialist established these furnaces in 1881, and they grew into one of the largest production sites in the region. After nearly a century of operation, the plant closed in 1971, after which the site was later preserved as a museum and historical landmark.

The complex preserves machinery and structures that tell the story of industrial labor and metal production in the American South. Today, artists and craftspeople use the space to create and teach metalworking, giving the old equipment new purpose.

You can visit the grounds during daytime hours and explore it on your own without paying an entrance fee. It makes sense to wear comfortable shoes and allow time for a leisurely walk through the different areas.

The two blast furnaces here rank among the few of their kind that remain in their original condition and can be visited today. Very few such facilities from this era have been made publicly accessible.

Location: Alabama

Location: Birmingham

Inception: 1983

Architects: James Sloss

Address: 20 32nd Street North, Birmingham, AL 35222

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-16:00

Phone: +12052542025

Website: https://slossfurnaces.com

GPS coordinates: 33.52066,-86.79131

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:00