Catch us this Saturday(5/9) at the Avondale Library for the Summer Reading Kickoff from 10am-12:30pm!
Photo of Avondale Park.
To make an appointment to see this collection and any others, please call 205-226-3630.
O. V. Hunt Collection. Birmingham, Ala. Public Library Archives.OVH197
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Please join us on Saturday, May 30th at 11am in the Arrington Auditorium for a talk by Marvin Clemons about passenger rail travel in Birmingham.
“A Journey to the Great Temple of Travel” recounts Terminal Station's history from its construction in 1905 through six decades of operation. Included are rare views of the station’s interior and colorful images of the splendid passenger trains that served Birmingham, from the namesake “Birmingham Special” to the deluxe “City of Miami.” The presentation concludes with a post-mortem of the circumstances leading to the station's abandonment and removal, and a tribute to the station’s legacy of historical preservation in the Birmingham District.
Published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the station’s removal, “Great Temple of Travel” is a tribute to the memory of Terminal Station and the passing of the romantic era of passenger rail travel in America.
For questions, contact Connor at [email protected] or call 205-226-3630.
Who doesn't love a vintage sign like this one?
Come learn about vintage signs in Birmingham from Tim Hollis on May 16th at 11am in the Arrington Auditorium.
To make an appointment to see this collection and any others, please call 205-226-3630.
Board of Equalization Collection. Birmingham, Ala. Public Library Archives. 29-1-1-10-7
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Due to the threat of inclement weather, the Central Library will close early at 7:00 PM today.
The safety of our patrons and staff is our top priority. Please plan your visit accordingly and stay safe, Birmingham.
We are thrilled to announce an author talk with Tim Hollis on Saturday, May16th 2026, in the Arrington Auditorium on the 4th floor of the Research Library. Hollis has written 40 books on pop culture history, a number of them concerning southeastern tourism and local history. He also operates his own museum of vintage toys, souvenirs and other pop culture artifacts in Walker County, Alabama.
For Images of America: Vintage Birmingham Signs, Hollis has scoured the archives of Birmingham's former sign companies, as well as other private collections, to compile some of the best remembered or most obscure signs that dotted the urban and suburban landscape. Here readers will again see the Buffalo Rock bottle pouring its ginger ale into a glass, the Golden Flake clown smiling down at passersby, the Barber's milk clock at the Five Points South intersection, and many more. Through these vintage photographs, readers can once again visit such once-thriving destinations as Eastwood Mall, Burger in a Hurry, and the Kiddieland amusement park.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Catherine Oseas at [email protected].
Racing into the weekend!
To make an appointment to see this collection and any others, please call 205-226-3630.
Charles Preston Collection. Birmingham, Ala. Public Library Archives.98.20813A
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It's officially spring in Birmingham. The St. Elias Food and Cultural Festival is happening this weekend.
To make an appointment to see this collection and any others, please call 205-226-3630.
Board of Equalization Collection. Birmingham, Ala. Public Library Archives.29-3-4-17-1
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Time to wash all that pollen off your car!
To make an appointment to see this collection and any others, please call 205-226-3630.
Board of Equalization Collection. Birmingham, Ala. Public Library Archives. 28-7-3-17-11
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Jefferson County enjoys a rich architectural heritage. This talk will introduce you to sources available at the Birmingham Public Library Archives to help you locate vintage photos of your house, building or church; determine the age of the structure and learn who has lived or worked there. This free talk is on Saturday, April 18th at 11am in the Arrington Auditorium.
