For nearly a century, Sloss Furnaces was the heart of Birmingham's celebrated iron industry, and the largest producer of pig iron in the world. Now its premises, which fell into disrepair for years after its closure, have been turned into a tourist attraction. If you don't think wandering around an abandoned mill is fascinating, you're in for a big surprise. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore, still littered with rusty tools and equipment, that it's like being on a post-apocalyptic movie set. Pick up a brochure in the Visitor Center to make certain you learn about all the features you'll encounter. The facility also does educational outreach, and conducts metal arts workshops. And at Halloween, the venue stages a haunted attraction, which has given rise to a spurious legend about its being haunted by an evil foreman. It's a legend that seems to fit the atmosphere of the place all year.
If you go:
Open daily until 4 PM except Mondays and major holidays. Free admission.
Links:

20 32nd Street North
Birmingham, Alabama 35222 USA
Regina.Nash@Birminghamal.gov
Phone Numbers:
Sloss Furnaces
+1 (205) 254-2025
+1 (205) 254-2025