Birmingham officially launches its 150th anniversary celebration
Braylon Walters reads his love letter to Birmingham at a press conference announcing plans to commemorate the city of Birmingham's 150th birthday this year. (contributed)
Birmingham city leaders on Monday unveiled plans for the city’s 150th anniversary, with events ranging from a “love letter” campaign to “Milestone Monday,” which will highlight the people, places, organizations and institutions that make up the Magic City.
City officials also announced the official theme for the sesquicentennial: “Built to Last.”
Alabama NewsCenter is presenting a continuing series marking the 150th birthday of the city of Birmingham.
“Birmingham is resilient, which is why ‘Built to Last’ is the theme for Birmingham’s 150th,” organizers explained in a news release.
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“Change has come to Birmingham over the years, and change continues to take place for the Magic City. The 2020 pandemic challenged us, but it did not break us. This city has experienced so much, but, still, it rises to meet another day. This city, our city, and its residents cannot be broken. Like the steel we were built on, we were built to last.”
“Birmingham has been through a lot this past year,’’ Mayor Randall Woodfin said in the news release. “But true to our legacy, we’re still here, still standing. That’s why our theme for our 150th celebration is ‘Built to Last’ – it has always described our heart, our fortitude and our legacy.”
It was in June 1871 that promoters for the fledgling city of Birmingham first began to sell lots near a railroad crossing in what is now the north side of downtown. The Alabama Legislature, however, did not charter the new municipality until Dec. 19, 1871.
It was named after the industrial city of Birmingham, England, which promoters hoped to emulate by making the new Birmingham a center of iron and steel production.
“This is our opportunity to not only celebrate Birmingham but also people who live, play and work here,’’ Woodfin said.
From now until Dec. 19, considered the official birthday of the city, a host of happenings are expected to take place as the city emerges from the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kicking off the celebration is a call for people to write love letters to or about the city, which will be collected and preserved by the Birmingham Public Library Archives Department. Individuals are invited to write a letter of no more than 150 words and email it to builttolast@birminghamal.gov.
The Milestone Monday campaign, meanwhile, is a call for nominations that will recognize the people, businesses and organizations from Birmingham that are celebrating their own, significant milestones in 2021.
“It could be someone turning 50, someone celebrating 20 years of marriage, someone who’s been on the job for 40 years, a company that has been in business for one year, 10 years, 25 years, etc.,” the city’s announcement said.
Nominations for Milestone Monday should be emailed to builttolast@birminghamal.gov with the subject line: Milestone Monday. Nominations should include a photo, what type milestone is being celebrated, and what the milestone means to them. The submissions will be considered for promotion on the city’s social media platforms and on the website www.birminghamal.gov/milestonemonday.
City officials have posted a more expansive list of activities already planned, starting this month, and scheduled through the rest of the year. Some of the activities will take place at some of the city’s historic institutions and museums, such as Arlington House, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, Southern Museum of Flight and the Birmingham Negro Southern League Museum.
Vulcan Park and Museum CEO Darlene Negrotto said this year’s Thunder on the Mountain fireworks display July 4 will tie in the 150th anniversary theme and include music about Birmingham, as well as patriotic music. Officials announced the 150th anniversary activities at Vulcan Park and Museum where Birmingham’s iconic iron man, the world’s largest cast iron statue, surveys the city from his perch on Red Mountain.
To learn more about the city’s 150th anniversary and view the list of events, visit http://birminghamal.gov/150. Officials urged those interested in the city’s 150th celebration to check the website often for updates.
