Located at 1st Avenue North and 32nd Street, Sloss Furnaces is literally the birthplace of the city of Birmingham. The furnaces, restored in 1983, were constructed in 1882 and produced steel for more than 90 years. In addition to the impressive furnaces, there is an industrial museum (with a slide show translated into ten languages), a sculpture garden, and a park. The furnaces are occasionally the site of concerts and festivals, but otherwise admission is free. This is one of the most fascinating places in Birmingham, and is entirely worth checking out.