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Location DB > United States > Alabama > Birmingham > Sloss Furnaces
 Name
Sloss Furnaces
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Servo on 11/10/2003 2:43 AM
last modified by Mr. Bitey on 7/18/2019 1:21 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Sloss is an industrial site that was used to extract iron from iron ore. It is about 2 blocks worth of stuff, and was converted to a public park/museam. There's a little something for everyone, from the disused industrial buildings, to large metal tanks and structures, to old rail cars, and even a tunnel. The site is also supposedly haunted, but I've yet to be accosted by any restless souls there.
 Basic Information
Type: Industrial Site
Status: Active
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
 Physical Information
Address
20 32nd Street North
Birmingham, Alabama
United States
Owner: Publicly Held
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • rust
  • unsafe flooring
  • water
  • evil spirits?
  •  Interesting Features
    The site is maintained as a museam, so it is publicly accessible. From the "public" areas, you will see:

    - Blast furnaces
    - Boilers (pipes, etc.)
    - Old brick buildings
    - Smaller furnaces
    - Stacks
    - Ruins
    - A long, totally underground tunnel

    The blast furnaces and other structures are at least 8 stories tall. Also, if you are willing to risk life and limb, you can jump the gates in places and see the non-public parts of the site. You'll need lockpics and a cutting torch (for the welded doors) to see some other parts.
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • locked gates
  • welded doors
  • the general public
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1881
    Closed: 1971
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  •  Recommended Equipment
    binoculars, and/or telephoto camera lens
     History
    Sloss was a blast furnace site operated from 1881 until 1971, which was used to purify iron ore into iron that was cast into bars called pigs (hence "pig iron"). It has the unique distinction of being the only publicly owned industrial site in the world, and in 1983 reopened as a museam of industry.

    Taken from the web site (see links at bottom of page):

    In 1881 and 1882, North Alabama planter and investor James Withers Sloss built the furnaces which became known as the "City Furnaces." Extensively rebuilt and modernized in the late 1920s, the current steel-jacketed furnaces employed an estimated 500 workers and produced 400 tons of pig iron daily. Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company and U. S. Pipe operated these furnaces, maintaining their position as a leading foundry iron producer until 1971.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans
    The location is a public park, and is being actively maintained/repaired. It will be standing for some time to come. Don't plan a trip around October and the beginning of November, as the site is used as a Haunted House during that time (see the web links).
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    a day at sloss
    Mon, May 29th, 2006
    posted by [dh]
    37 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    sloss at night
    Mon, May 29th, 2006
    posted by [dh]
    4 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Slossatopia
    Sat, Jun 3rd, 2006
    posted by binaryzero
    30 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    New Year's at Sloss
    Sun, Dec 30th, 2007
    posted by tholcomb
    25 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Alabama didn't give me food poisoning.
    Tue, Feb 26th, 2008
    posted by Swick
    19 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Alabama gave me food poisoning.
    Tue, Feb 26th, 2008
    posted by SaraBellum
    15 pictures


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Web Links
    http://www.slossfurnaces.com/
    https://en.wikiped...iki/Sloss_Furnaces
    http://www.frightfurnace.com/ (Halloween event held at Sloss)
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    Category Rating
    Photography 8 / 10
    Coolness 7 / 10
    Content Quality 8 / 10
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 7/18/2019 1:58 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Jul 18 19 at 13:58, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Jul 18 19 at 13:22, Mr. Bitey changed the following: Latitude, Longitude, Co-ordinate Accuracy, Web Links
  • on Jul 30 14 at 20:28, Mike Dijital validated this location
  • on Jul 30 14 at 20:27, Mike Dijital updated the main picture
  • on Jul 30 14 at 20:26, Mike Dijital updated the main picture
  • on Jul 30 14 at 20:25, Mike Dijital updated the main picture
  • on Jul 30 14 at 20:25, Mike Dijital updated gallery picture DSCF8673.jpg
  • on Jun 30 14 at 8:57, Steed reverted this location to a previous state
  • on Feb 26 08 at 19:36, SaraBellum validated this location
  • on Feb 26 08 at 19:14, Swick updated gallery Alabama didn't give me food poisoning.
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