Birmingham, one of the largest cities in Alabama, is home to several nationally-ranked museums. Offering family-friendly fun and educational interactive exhibits, most of the museums in the area are open throughout the year.
Free museum days and free events will always be on Birmingham On the Cheap’s event calendar, so be sure to subscribe for our daily email .
This way, you won’t miss a chance to save some money on an outing for the whole family!
Birmingham Museum of Art
Birmingham Art Museum
There’s always FREE ADMISSION at the Birmingham Museum of Art! For family-friendly fun or a romantic stroll through the collections, the museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays.
With over 24,000 pieces of artwork on display, interactive exhibits, and a hands-on children’s area, the Birmingham Museum of Art is a local treasure. Artwork collections span from ancient to modern times and include culturally diverse sets of work.
The museum also features exhibitions, which are only available for planned lengths of time, usually spanning several months. Don’t miss one of the finest art collections in the Southeast.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
FREE ADMISSION Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. Sunday 12 P.M.-5 P.M.
FREE PARKING in the designated lot behind the museum.
Address:
2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35203
For current special events and exhibits go to artsbma.org
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
photo by Beth Miles
With Birmingham’s rich history in the Civil Rights Movement during the ’50s and ’60s, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is the city’s most well-known attraction.
The BCRI serves as the cornerstone of the Civil Rights District beside the 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park (both free to visitors). It features a self-guided tour of the permanent exhibits which include the Human Rights Gallery, the Movement Gallery, the Confrontation Gallery, and the Barriers Gallery.
The museum is family-friendly and offers educational programs for all ages.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
Advance Online Ticketing is Required
Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM- 5 PM:
$15 adults / $13 seniors / $13 college students.
FREE ADMISSION for all kids 3rd grade and under
FREE ADMISSION for all Jefferson Co. students 4th-12th grade, during the school year and $13 during the summer months.
Ask about discounts for AAA and Smithsonian Members.
For continuous discounts and perks throughout the year, you can become a BCRI member.
Address:
520 16th St N
Birmingham, AL 35203
For current special events and traveling exhibits, go to bcri.org
Vulcan Park and Museum
Get up close and personal with Vulcan, the world’s largest cast-iron statue, when you visit Vulcan Park Museum. Come see the original Iron Man himself, weighing in at 100,000 pounds of iron and standing 56 feet tall.
Vulcan was originally constructed in 1903 by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti to represent the Steel City at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. As the Roman God of fire and forge, Vulcan was an apt choice to represent the rich industrial history of Alabama.
He was brought home and erected atop Red Mountain on a pedestal of 124 feet, elevating him to a height of 180 feet where he remains overlooking the city of Birmingham. With Vulcan Park and Museum offering economical admission prices and a spectacular view of the city, don’t miss this beautiful attraction highlighting one of Birmingham’s most famous icons.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
Daily Admission Rates from 10 AM to 6 PM:
Includes access to park grounds, museum, and observation tower
See website for holiday closings
Adults (ages 13 and up)- $6 plus tax
Military- $5 plus tax
Seniors (ages 65 plus) $5 plus tax
Children (ages 5 to 12) $4 plus tax
Children (ages 4 and under) FREE
Evening Admission Rates from 6 PM to 10 PM:
Includes access to park grounds and observation tower
Adults (ages 13 and up)- $5 plus tax
Children (ages 5 to 12) $4 plus tax
Children (ages 4 and under) FREE
Vulcan Members – FREE!
AAA Members – 20% off general admission price for the member plus one guest.
Address:
1701 Valley View Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
To visit the Vulcan Park and Museum website, click here.
Sloss Furnaces
Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
With FREE ADMISSION TO THE PUBLIC, Sloss Furnaces stands close to downtown Birmingham where its appearance in the Birmingham skyline serves as a reminder of the city’s roots as an industrial boom-town.
With all the ingredients needed to make iron within a thirty-mile radius of Birmingham, Sloss Furnace was one of nineteen blast furnaces built during the 1880’s post-war decade. Operating from 1882 to 1970, Sloss Furnace is now preserved and standing proud as a monument to the Industrial Revolution.
Sloss Furnaces is open and free to the public for self-guided tours. Guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 PM are also free. Be sure to start in the Visitor’s Center so you can browse the exhibits, watch a video, and pick up instructions for the FREE self-guided tour.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
Sloss Furnaces is currently CLOSED due to preparation for The World Games until July 17th.
FREE ADMISSION TO THE PUBLIC
Tuesday to Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM to 4 PM
Closed Mondays
Address:
20 32nd Street North
Birmingham, AL 35222
For more information, go to Slossfurnaces.com.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest motorcycle exhibit, the Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum is home to over nine hundred motorcycles in pristine condition available for viewing.
Although this attraction was built with a focus on preserving the art and history of the motorcycle, there is also an extensive collection of Lotus cars on display, as well as a variety of rare, historic automobiles. The grounds also boast a world-class 16-turn, 2.38-mile racetrack as part of the 880-acre park.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is home to the Barber Vintage Festival in October and hosts year-round special events as a world-renowned destination for Motorcycle aficionados everywhere. Don’t miss the world’s most extensive collection of motorcycles right here in Birmingham.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
Hours from April 1 to September 30
Monday to Saturday: 10 AM to 6 PM
Sunday: 12 PM to 6 PM
Hours from October to March 31
Monday to Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday: 12 PM to 5 PM
Closed on major holidays
Adults: (ages 13 and up) $15 plus tax
Children: (ages 4–12) : $10 plus tax
Children 3 and under: FREE ADMISSION
Become a member for FREE ADMISSION daily, discounts on events, and many other perks.
No current discounts to the public are available but occasional offers and coupons can be found online.
Address:
6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy
Leeds, AL 35094
Visit their website for more information here: barbermuseum.org
McWane Science Center
McWane Science Center
The McWane Science Center in the heart of downtown Birmingham features four floors of fun and unique hands-on activities for the whole family. Making science fun since 1998, The McWane Center is a state-of-the-art educational resource with not only an aquarium and a dinosaur floor, but also a 280-seat IMAX Dome Theater.
The lower level features the World of Water Aquariums as well as the Shark and Ray Touch Tank. The first floor is home to exhibits such as the Bubble Room and the Bed of Nails, just to name a few.
Floor Two houses adventures in the Sea Monsters exhibit and the Alabama Dinosaurs exhibit, and is also home to the wildly popular Itty Bitty Magic City for toddlers.
The third floor features the Art and Tech displays and is the place to go for the exciting traveling exhibits. Click here for current traveling exhibits.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
Monday – Friday 9 AM to 5 PM
Saturday – 10 AM to 6 PM
Sunday – 12 PM to 6 PM
Adventure Hall Ticket Only:
Adult (ages 13 and up) $15
Kids (ages 2 to 12) $12
Seniors (ages 65 and up) $14
Ages 2 and under FREE
IMAX Ticket Only:
Adult (ages 13 and up) $9
Kids (ages 2 to 12) $8
Seniors (ages 65 and up) $8
Ages 2 and under FREE
Combo Ticket to Adventure Halls and IMAX:
Adult (ages 13 and up) $20
Kids (ages 2 to 12) $15
Seniors (ages 65 and up) $18
Ages2 and under FREE
McWane Science Center participates in the Museums for All program offering admission from FREE to $3 for up to four family members when you present an EBT card.
To learn about becoming a member, membership levels, discounts, and benefits, click here.
Address:
200 19th St N
Birmingham, AL 35203
Birmingham Negro Southern League Museum
Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash
DAILY FREE ADMISSION! If you’re a fan of baseball and history, don’t miss the Birmingham Negro Southern League Museum’s collections of memorabilia and artifacts from the Negro Southern League, the Negro American League, and Negro National League.
The Negro Southern League, spanning from 1920 to 1951 brought greats such as Willie Mays and Satchel Paige to the national forefront of the sport. With exhibits such as a Bo Jackson display, a Satchel Paige hologram, and an exhibit featuring Rickwood Field, one of the oldest ballparks in the country, this is a must-see for baseball fans everywhere.
Come see original uniforms, contracts, trophies, and the display of 1,500 baseballs autographed by the legends all with FREE ADMISSION! Located in the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
FREE ADMISSION TO THE PUBLIC
Tuesday-Saturday FROM 10 AM – 4 PM
Check out Free Tour Tuesdays with guided tours offered.
Address:
20 16th St S
Birmingham, AL 35233
(located at University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Southern Museum of Flight
The Southern Museum of Flight boasts a display of over 100 aircraft, as well as an impressive collection of models, engines, paintings, and photographs, all celebrating the exciting history of Southern Aviation. As the home of the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame, don’t miss experiencing one of the largest aviation museums in the Southeast.
Featuring the histories of military aircraft, civilian aircraft, and even experimental aircraft dating back to the beginnings of airplane history, this 75,000 square foot facility first opened its door in 1983 and continues to bring-in over visitors.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Admission: $5
FREE for Active Military and Families
Discounted group rates are available.
Annual museum family memberships include reciprocal memberships with 300 plus museums across the United States.
Address:
4343 73rd St. North
Birmingham, AL 35206
For more information, check out the website at southernmuseumofflight.org
Tannehill Park/ Iron and Steel Museum of Alabama
Photo by Peter Lewicki on Unsplash
Just a short ride from Birmingham gets you to Tannehill State Park in McCalla, Alabama, home of more than 1500 acres for outdoor recreation, including hiking trails and a campground.
Tannehill is also home to the Iron and Steel Museum, displaying artifacts from the history of iron-making dating back to the Civil War when Alabama was known as the Arsenal of the Confederacy. Don’t miss the Pioneer Farm where re-enactors demonstrate life in the pioneer days or the Craft Cabins where artisans bring their wares (check dates).
Tannehill State Park is home to over 45 buildings from the 1800s including Tannehill furnaces, The May Plantation Gin House, the John Wesley Hall Grist Mill, and the John Scott Young Country Store.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
Open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset
The Visitor Center is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM
Admission:
Adults (ages 12 and up) $5
Seniors (ages 62 and up) $4
Children (Ages 6-11) $3
FREE ADMISSION for ages 5 and under
There is an additional $2 charge for the Iron & Steel Museum.
Annual Individual Pass:
$50 Adults (ages 12-61)
$40 Seniors (ages 62 and older)
$30 Children (ages 6-11)
ages 5 and under free
12632 Confederate Parkway,
McCalla, AL 35111
For more information, visit Tannehill State Park.
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
Although not in Jefferson County, a quick trip to the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Shelby County is well worth it as there’s always FREE ADMISSION.
Located in Calera, Alabama, the Heart of Dixie Museum is the official state railroad museum of Alabama. It features two restored depots, a museum of railroad collectibles and memorabilia, and outside, a collection of railroad cars, cabooses, and engines for touring and riding. Ticketed train rides are available on Saturdays only and last approximately one hour.
HOURS AND ADMISSION INFO
FREE ADMISSION TO MUSEUM. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM.
Train Rides are Saturdays March 5th-September 17th.
Train Rides are an additional cost and several SPECIAL EVENTS are available during the season. Some offerings include: North Pole Express, Pumpkin Junction, Ozan Wine Trains and Wild West Day.
Many Special Events sell out early! Check the website for frequent updates.
Address:
1919 9th St.
Calera, AL 35040
Visit hodrrm.org for more information
Graphic Courtesy of Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
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