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Bessemer was born as a steel town in 1887, named for the British inventor whose process turned iron into cheap steel, and its story is still told in red brick and rail yards. The city of about 26,000 lies at the southwestern edge of the Birmingham metro, close to the ridges where iron ore, coal and limestone sat side by side.
Industrialist Henry F. DeBardeleben laid out the town, and mills and furnaces made it one of the region's busiest industrial centers for decades. Its old Southern Railway depot is now a local history museum, and the Bright Star, serving Greek-Southern seafood and steaks since 1907, has become a statewide institution.
Today visitors come for a water park, weekend flea market bargains and easy access to Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, where Civil War-era blast furnaces stand in the woods. Downtown Birmingham is about 20 minutes northeast.
Opened in 1907 by Greek immigrants, this family-run restaurant is known for Greek-style snapper, broiled seafood, steaks and homemade pies served in a dining room with murals and booths. It is often named among Alabama's oldest restaurants. Lunch is less busy than weekend dinners.
A local history museum in the former Southern Railway depot, with displays on the steel and iron industry, Native American artifacts, old telephones and typewriters, and everyday objects from early Bessemer. Volunteers share stories about the city's founding. Hours are limited, so call or check ahead.
A wooded park south of Bessemer around the stone blast furnaces that made iron for the Confederacy until Union raiders burned them in 1865. The Iron and Steel Museum of Alabama, pioneer cabins, a gristmill and hiking trails are here. Monthly trade days draw big crowds; camping is available.
A two-story farmhouse built in the 1840s and one of the oldest houses in the area, preserved with period furniture and rural tools to show farm life before the steel boom. It is opened for tours and events by local volunteers. Check the schedule ahead, as it is not open daily.
A large amusement and water park in Bessemer with wave pools, water slides, a lazy river and children's splash areas. It is open seasonally from late spring through summer. Bring sunscreen and water shoes, and arrive at opening time on hot weekends to claim a shaded spot near the pools.
A long-running weekend flea market with hundreds of vendor stalls selling antiques, tools, clothing, collectibles, plants and fresh produce, with indoor and outdoor sections. Bring cash, since some sellers do not take cards, and go early on Saturday for the best finds before the heat sets in.
A grid of brick and stone commercial buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s, when Bessemer was booming on iron and steel. Look for the old bank buildings, churches and storefronts along Second and Third Avenues North. It makes a short self-guided walk on the way to the Hall of History.
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