New lights under the viaduct at Sloss Furnaces. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now) — A vibrant, brand-new light display is now in place under the 1st Avenue Viaduct. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Have you noticed new lights under the viaduct by Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark? No, your eyes are not deceiving you—it’s part of a brand-new light display at one of Birmingham’s oldest and most famous attractions.

Bham Now took a late-night tour of the Sloss Furnaces campus to see the lights in their full splendor ahead of a grand unveiling later this year.

Sloss Furnaces adds new light display to 1st Avenue Viaduct

In June 2022, members of the Sloss family, public officials and several hundred Sloss supporters gathered at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark to reveal a new set of color-changing LEDs that illuminate the 140-year-old landmark’s water tower, boilers and smokestacks. Completed in two phases, the project installed 133 lights that made Sloss Furnaces visible from every major highway at a cost of around $400,000, funded through private donations.

But that was just the beginning.

Over the past few months, Sloss Furnaces has installed a brand-new light feature under the 1st Avenue Viaduct, a major east-west thoroughfare that runs directly through the middle of Sloss Furances’ 32-acre campus. The 1st Avenue Viaduct—or rather, the area below it—has become a popular location for many of the 100+ events held at Sloss Furnaces, such as Bare Hands Inc.’s Día de Muertos Alabama and Birmingham Taco Fest.

Here are some quick facts about the new light feature:

All lights were provided by LumenPulse, an LED manufacturer based in Canada.
Lighting under the viaduct includes 111 light bars as well as multiple individual LED lights and light panels.
The lights can be programmed in dozens of colors and color combinations for holidays or special events.

According to David Arias, the Executive Director of Sloss Furnaces, the project is an important part of the future plans for National Historic Landmark.