Originally cast to represent Alabama’s industrial strength at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, the statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of the forge, the symbol of Birmingham is now situated high above the city on a tall plinth.

Not surprisingly, the modello for the sculpture was created by an Italian sculptor Giuseppe Moretti, already an accomplished and well known artist.

As one would expect, the sculpture was cast in pieces, something that was easily done in Birmingham, and then shipped to St. Louis on rail cars. A grown man can easily hide behind one of Vulcan’s sandaled feet for a sense of scale.

In 1939, it was mounted on the high plinth, which also functions as an observation deck. I have to admit that I don’t know if the setting is optimal. You really can’t see the sculpture very well from either the ground, nor from the observation deck.

The views are spectacular from the deck, though, looking down into the valley of Birmingham and also the valleys on the other side of Red Mountain, which is the suburbs.

A still extant mine entrance is a bit of the holy grail for urban explorers in St. Louis, but here in Birmingham, there really is one.

Red Mountain was mined extensively, which is perhaps not surprising as its name comes from the presence of iron oxide-tinged stone.

Mining was dirty, dangerous and didn’t pay well, but it was a major employer in Birmingham and surrounding communities.

All three components of steel: limestone, coal and iron ore, were mined near Birmingham, and all had the potential to shorten miners’ life spans.

I’m not sure how much mining still occurs in the area.

Shanties were the common homes of miners.