Birmingham history gets boost with new national preservation grants

Big things are happening for historic preservation across Alabama, and two places in the Greater Birmingham Area are getting a boost to keep their stories alive—Temple Beth El in Birmingham and the Albano/Woolworth building in Bessemer.

Both are among 45 organizations nationwide to receive small-dollar grants through the National Trust Preservation Fund. 

Birmingham’s Temple Beth El receives preservation support

Temple Beth El—one of Birmingham’s most meaningful historic sites—was award $2,250 to support an intern assisting with its Alabama Register application. 

The church dates back more than a century, standing as a testament to Birmingham’s rich cultural and religious heritage. 

While the grant may seem small, it will play a big role in helping document and preserve the synagogue’s history. 

Bessemer’s historic Albano/Woolworth building

Nearby in Bessemer, The Holland Project received $5,000 to assess the historic Albano/Woolworth building.

The two-story brick structure was constructed in 1890 and has seen well over a century of life, from its early days housing the Bank of Commerce to its later years as an F.W. Woolworth pharmacy in the 1950s.

With help from the National Trust Preservation Fund, the Albano/Woolworth building will undergo a structural assessment—an important first step in protecting it from neglect and reimagining its future in Bessemer. 

Why small grants make a big impact

While the National Trust Preservation Fund’s small-dollar grants typically don’t exceed $10,000, their impact is anything but small. Each serves as a launchpad for larger investments, helping communities preserve meaningful spaces and spark revitalization. 

It’s not just the Birmingham-area benefiting from these grants. The Elmore Bolling Initiative in Lowndesboro also received $5,000 to develop a history landscape plan for the Lowndesboro School. 

From Birmingham to Bessemer and beyond, preserving the past is proving to be one of the clearest paths toward a stronger future.

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