Vulcan statue

The Vulcan statue of Birmingham, Alabama, is the largest cast iron statue in the world and the symbol of the city. Designed by the Italian-born sculptor Giuseppe Moretti, the statue is 55 feet (17 meters) tall and depicts the Roman god Vulcan. It was cast in Birmingham from local iron ore as the city's entry at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, where it dramatically demonstrated the mineral and manufacturing riches of the Birmingham district. It won the Grand Prize at the Exposition in the Mine and Metallurgy exhibit.

Related Topics:
Birmingham, Alabama - Cast iron - Sculptor - Giuseppe Moretti - Roman god - Vulcan - Iron ore - 1904 World's Fair - St. Louis, Missouri

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When the Exposition in St. Louis ended, the statue was dismantled and returned to its hometown of Birmingham, only to be left in pieces alongside the railroad due to unpaid freight bills. Vulcan was eventually re-erected at the Alabama State Fairgrounds, but the statue's arms were installed incorrectly, and he was without his spear, which had been lost en route from St. Louis.

Related Topics:
Alabama State Fairgrounds - Spear

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It was not until 1939 that the statue found a suitable home, thanks to the Works Progress Administration, which partially funded a new park in the city at the top of Red Mountain. A 120-foot (37-meter) pedestal was built of local sandstone, and Vulcan was hoisted into place. A new spear was fabricated to be held high in his right hand while his left hand held a hammer at his side.

Related Topics:
1939 - Works Progress Administration - Red Mountain - Sandstone

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To take full advantage of Vulcan's position overlooking Birmingham, the city's Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1946 made the statue into a symbol for road safety. His spear was replaced by a neon torch that glowed green, except during the 24 hours following a fatal traffic accident, when it glowed red.

Related Topics:
Junior Chamber of Commerce - 1946 - Road safety - Neon

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To celebrate Birmingham's centennial, the area around the statue was given a $1 million facelift in 1971. The original tower was clad in Alabama marble with an elevator and observation deck added. A covered walkway also connected a gift shop and snack bar. Unfortunately, the statue itself had, at some point, been filled up to the chest with concrete and had begun to deteriorate seriously. By 1990, an engineering study found that the statue was in danger of collapse.

Related Topics:
1971 - Marble - Concrete - 1990

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Vulcan was removed during 1999 for a $14 million renovation process that saw the park and pedestal restored to its original 1938 appearance. The statue itself was thoroughly inspected and repaired, with some parts, including the lost spear point, re-cast. It was re-erected on a steel armature during June 2003, restored to its original appearance as intended by Moretti, and slightly reoriented to the east.

Related Topics:
1999 - 2003

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