Sloss Furnaces
Sloss Furnace Company (historic); City of Birmingham (owner), Birmingham, Alabama
Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, made pig iron from 1882 until the site closed in 1970. Founded by James Withers Sloss, the complex keeps two 400-ton blast furnaces and about forty other buildings. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1981 and opened as a City of Birmingham museum in 1983.
- Company
- Sloss Furnace Company (historic); City of Birmingham (owner)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- 1882
- Employees
- Not stated
- Industry
- Steel and metals
- Revised
- November 12, 2026
What is made here
Former pig iron blast furnace complex; now a museum of industry.
Facts
| Product | Pig iron; the furnaces first went into blast in April 1882 (company: slossfurnaces.com) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Colonel James Withers Sloss, who founded the Sloss Furnace Company in 1880 (company: slossfurnaces.com) |
| Closure | The site closed in 1970, when its boilers stopped producing steam (company: slossfurnaces.com) |
| Landmark status | Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1981; opened as a museum in September 1983 (company: slossfurnaces.com) |
| What survives | Two 400-ton blast furnaces and about forty other buildings; owned by the City of Birmingham (company: slossfurnaces.com) |
Figures are as stated by the source named next to each one. Company figures are the company's own claims.
Can you visit?
The City of Birmingham-owned site operates as a museum and hosts events and metal arts workshops. (slossfurnaces.com) Check the operator's site before you go.
Sources
- Sloss Furnaces: History (company, checked November 12, 2026)
Something changed? Send a correction with a link and we'll recheck it.