Volcano challenge: When the elevator is out, the stairs are only up – AL.com

If you want to look out over Birmingham from its most famous vantage point, the Vulcan statue in Vulcan Park, be prepared to climb some stairs.

Visitors were prohibited from taking the elevator or climbing the tower stairs to the observation deck from June 5, 2023. until March 15, 2024, while the tower was closed for nine months for weatherization and repairs.

Now the elevator to the observation tower has stopped working, has been out of service for several weeks and is awaiting repair.

The only way up is to climb the staircase inside the tower, with 159 steps. Surprisingly, a steady stream of visitors still climbs Vulcan every day to enjoy the view, happily climbing the stairs.

“Believe it or not, we have guests who come just for the stairs,” said Samil Baker, director of marketing and public relations for Vulcan Park.

We hope elevator service will be restored soon, she said.

“Temperature and weather conditions can affect elevator performance and our operations team evaluates that on a daily or occasional basis,” Baker said. “We also perform routine maintenance on the elevator to address any issues related to temperature changes. Stopping the elevator is temporary.”

Tickets are sold at the park: $6 for ages 13 and up, $4 for ages 5 to 12. There is no discount for taking the stairs when the elevator is not working.

Maintenance of the 120-year-old Iron Man statue must be carried out periodically due to its constant exposure to atmospheric conditions.

The Vulcan statue, a tribute to Birmingham’s booming iron and steel industry featuring the Roman god of fire and the forge, was created for the city’s exposition at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

Since its return to Birmingham and public display it has undergone a number of repairs and restorations.

The Vulcan stood at the Alabama Fairgrounds from 1906 to 1936 before being moved to the top of Red Mountain. Vulcan’s sandstone pedestal was built in 1938 and Vulcan Park opened in 1939.

In 1946 a neon torch is placed in his right hand. The torch usually glowed green, but turned red for 24 hours after each road accident to highlight road safety.

From 1968 to 1972, another major renovation was carried out. A new marble surround was added around the sandstone pedestal to protect it from the elements. An elevator was added along with an enclosed observation deck at the top of the tower.

Vulcan was taken down in 1999. as part of another restoration project. The statue has been repaired and painted, the marble cladding has been removed from the pedestal, the enclosed viewing platform has been removed and replaced with an open platform.

The statue was reopened to the public in 2003. When open year-round, Vulcan usually attracts more than 160,000 visitors, with residents using it as a prime location to give visitors the best view of the city and its history. It is generally ranked behind the Birmingham Zoo and the McWane Center as a paid tourist attraction for the city and is ranked as one of the top ten paid tourist attractions in the state.

In recent years, in place of a neon torch, Vulcan has been re-equipped with a spear like the one he wielded at the World’s Fair.

During the last restoration in 2023-2024. the sandstone pedestal has been cleaned and a waterproofing sealant has been added to reduce water intrusion into the internal staircase and preserved marble landing.