Birmingham has a new permanent nighttime feature and it is magical.

With the help of children from the gathering last night at Sloss Furnaces, Mayor Randall Woodfin “flipped the switch“ — lighting the 140 year-old historic landmark’s water tower, boilers and smokestacks. 

Bham Now was on hand to capture the moment alongside members of the Sloss family, public officials and several hundred Sloss supporters.

“Lighting Sloss Furnaces is going to put a big spotlight on this very important tourist attraction,” said Lee Sentell, the director of Alabama Tourism. “Hopefully it will encourage people to study and understand the importance of the iron and steel industry in the creation of Birmingham… the Magic City. This is an exclamation mark to a great tourist attraction.”

Cathy Sloss Jones, President of Sloss Real Estate and board member of Sloss Furnaces summed up the 25 minute ceremony and new Sloss lights best:

“It is so beautiful. It is everything we hoped it would be. And I think people are going to enjoy it all over the city. Being up close is amazing, but I know from distance it will be equally amazing.”

Since Sloss Furnaces is currently closed to the public due to construction and preparation for The World Games, we’ve made a handy list of places you can catch a good view of the newly “lit” steel mill.

The best “drive-by” view? 1st Avenue North traveling east out of downtown. 

Missed seeing “lit” below is a gallery of photos from the event and a Facebook Live video of the ceremony. Enjoy!

Are you going to watch the newly lit Sloss Furnaces in the coming days? Share your photos on social media by tagging us at @bhamnow  Also – if you interested in supporting the “Light Up Sloss”  initiative – donate the Sloss Furnaces Foundation.

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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