Existing comment:
The Iron Man: Vulcan
The giant, cast iron statue you see towering above you is Vulcan, the Roman god of metalwork and the forge. The 56-foot tall statue was commissioned by Birmingham leaders to represent their new, growing city at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. After a smashing success at the fair, he was brought home to Birmingham.
Sculptor Giuseppe Moretti took on the daunting assignment creating the statue in just seven months. The statue was cast by local foundry men, using iron ore taken from Red Mountain mines. Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library. Catalog # Moretti, Giuseppe
The statue, accompanied by a display of local minerals, was one of the most popular attractions at the fair, taking home the Grand Prize as the best exhibit in the Mineral Department. Courtesy of Missouri Historical Society
In 2002 - 2003, after years of braving the elements, Vulcan was meticulously restored, reinforced, and returned to his pedestal. |