Sloss Furnaces receives $146,460 grant for entrance upgrades from Norfolk Southern

In an ongoing effort to make Sloss Furnaces more welcoming and easier to navigate, major railroad company Norfolk Southern has awarded a $146,460 grant to Sloss Furnaces Foundation, Inc. through its Thriving Communities Grant Program to improve the entrance to one of Birmingham’s defining historic sites.

The entrance upgrades will be the first phase of a broader effort to redevelop Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark into a dynamic public gathering space.

Norfolk Southern grants Sloss Furnaces $146,460 for entrance upgrades

Nearly a year ago, Sloss Furnaces’ leadership announced a detailed plan of improvements and changes meant to improve the way people engage with the National Historic Landmark—including plans for Sloss to go beyond just a landmark and become a park. The overall vision includes concepts for smaller projects throughout the Sloss campus, such as:

• Adding a play area for young kids and “a bigger play area for big kids and adults”
• Creating a 65-by-90-foot maze in the footprint of the old water reservoir
• Building a walking trail that will go through the spray pond
• Installing an outdoor elevator to take visitors to a platform at the top of the furnace
• Establishing a 1K trail, allowing races to easily take place without shutting down city roads
• Bringing pedal cars to a half-mile-long pathway
• Dividing the main road to allow one side for vehicles and another for pedestrians
• Changing the main entrance to where 2nd Avenue North connects to 32nd Street

One of the projects on that list—upgrades to the 32nd Street Streetscape—just got a major boost thanks to a $146,460 grant from Norfolk Southern.

“Sloss Furnaces connects us to the city’s industrial roots and celebrates the innovation and resilience of Alabama. It is a living reminder of how rail and iron built Birmingham and how the industry continues to shape and support communities today. We are proud that our investment will create a welcoming environment to ensure more people connect with that history and keep that story alive for the next generation.”

Kristin Wong, Director, Norfolk Southern Foundation & Community Impact

Awarded to Sloss Furnaces Foundation, Inc. through Norfolk Southern’s Thriving Communities Grant Program, the grant will help reshape the main entrance to Sloss Furnaces with a new gateway, fencing, walkways and landscaping, with design elements drawing on Birmingham’s industrial and rail heritage for inspiration.

The improvements are intended to encourage more everyday visits from nearby neighborhoods and support activity at surrounding businesses.

“We are deeply grateful to Norfolk Southern for recognizing the important role Sloss Furnaces plays in Birmingham’s future and supporting it through this Thriving Communities Grant. By creating a more welcoming entrance, this grant will help launch our broader vision for Sloss Furnaces as a place where people come together to learn, create, explore and connect.”

David Arias, Executive Director, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

Excited to see Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark get an entrance upgrade? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!