Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Liberty National Building added to National Register of Historic Places
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One of Birmingham’s oldest and largest office towers was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of historic sites, buildings, structures, districts and objects deemed worthy of preservation by the National Park Service. Formerly home to the Liberty National Life Insurance Company, the Liberty National Building was listed on the market in 2023.
One of Birmingham’s oldest office towers
Located at 2021 3rd Ave S, the Liberty National Building was designed by Warren, Knight & Davis, a prominent local architecture firm that designed dozens of buildings in Birmingham, including:
The original 10-story structure was completed in 1925 and purchased by the Liberty National Life Insurance Company in 1931 for use as the company’s headquarters. Liberty National added a six-story addition to the original tower in 1952 and a massive, 16-story addition in 1971 that overshadowed the original structure.
In 1958, Liberty National placed a 1/5th-scale bronze replica of the Statue of Liberty on a pedestal on top of the original building, where it stayed until the 1980s. Now, the statue is perched at the entrance of the Liberty Park residential and mixed-use subdivision in Vestavia Hills.
Vacant since 2010, the Liberty National Building was acquired in 2017 by Liberty Redemption, LLC, a group that aimed to get the building into better condition in hopes of attracting a buyer.
After removing drop ceilings, old wiring, pipes and other parts that were no longer viable, Liberty Redemption, LLC listed the property on the market through Harbert Realty Services in 2023.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places
The 100-year-old Liberty National Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 11, 2025. Administered by the National Park Service, the National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and preserve historic and archaeological resources in the United States.
“We worked with David Schneider of Schneider Historic Preservation, LLC to get this recognition, and he’s done an outstanding job. We’re very pleased that both buildings at the Liberty Towers at Midtown were listed on the National Register, which opens up new options for State and Federal historic tax credits. The building’s location in Midtown has just gotten better and better since we acquired it in 2017, thanks to the growth of Birmingham.”
William Rose, Owner, Liberty Redemption LLC
To be considered for the National Register of Historic Places, a property must meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation, which examines the property’s age (generally at least 50 years old), its significance and integrity.
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