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BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA: CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOUTHERN FOOD
The history of the Civil
Rights movement is brought to life throughout
Birmingham and should be a ’must
see’ for all Americans. From the exhibits and galleries, historical
footage, and interactive displays at the
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
to the harrowing sculptures of attack dogs and water hoses in
Kelly
Ingram Park to the remembrance of the devastation of the bombing at the
Sixteenth
Street Baptist church, Birmingham is a moving reminder of the challenges
of African-Americans and a celebration of their accomplishments in the 20th
century.
Other worthy attractions
in Birmingham include: musical history at the
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame at Carver
Theatre; sports history at the Alabama
Sports Hall of Fame (be sure to check out the displays of a young Willie
Mays when he played for the Birmingham Barons);
Rickwood Field, America’s oldest
ballpark; new history at the stunning
Birmingham Museum of Art; and the highly
entertaining and educational McWane Science
Center.
And don’t forget the culinary history that is being made in Birmingham. From the trio of restaurants by uber-chef Frank Stittt (his flagship Highlands Bar and Grill, wood-fired Italian specialties at Bottega Restaurant and Cafe, and French delicacies at Chez Fon Fon) to the savory Southern stylings of Chef Chris Hastings at Hot & Hot Fish Club, the dining scene in the Five Points neighborhood or Lakeview district are foodie history in the making.