![]() ![]() They were married at her family house in front of friends while the family remained upstairs, then honeymooned at a camp on the Warrior River. They were engaged within a week, despite the strong objections of her father. In Birmingham she took classes at Birmingham-Southern College and Samford University.Īt the age of 19 she met World War I veteran and aspiring sculptor Georges Bridges at a debutante party in Birmingham. She continued her studies throughout her life, at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, the Sorbonne and the Académie Julian. During the summer she operated a tractor and filled in as a cook at a local farm, until the lady of the house heard that she was an Ogontz girl and threw a party in her honor. The incident nearly led to her expulsion, but she was able to continue at the Pennsylvania Academy and studies sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. On a whim, she joined a suffragists' parade in Philadelphia, missing an appointment with her school chaperone. She continued at the Ogontz School for Young Ladies in Abington, Pennsylvania, where, for a year, she was the roommate of Amelia Earhart. She attended the Margaret Allen School and took lessons from local artists such as Hannah Elliot, though her father had disapproved. Stephens Expressway.Įleanor decided as a child to pursue a career as an artist. The house was later demolished for the Elton B. Eleanor befriended her neighbors, Mildred Kettig and Mary Hard, and chatted up President Taft when he was a guest at the house during his 1909 tour. Because she preferred only silver and blue in her bedroom, her father agreed to have the room's chandelier sent off for silver-plating. The family moved to Birmingham when she was a few months old, and she grew up, with eight siblings, in the Richard Massey residence on Red Mountain, famed for its Italian gardens which were the setting for numerous parties and dances. Her father was the founder of the Massey Business College. The same goes for Lyric Theatre, directly across the street, where opera, symphony and ballet performances take center stage.Bridges was born to Richard and Bessie Spencer Massey. ![]() In the Theater District, the Alabama Theatre, a 1927 movie palace, offers films, shows, concerts and other performances in a gorgeous space. The Birmingham Museum of Art’s collections feature 26,000 ancient-to-modern works, as well as an ever-changing roster of exhibitions and events, for those who want a dose of seriously high culture. Its reputation is just as solid when it comes to art, with dozens of galleries clustered near the downtown area and more popping up all the time. Should you have Birmingham pigeonholed as serving only barbecue and fried pies, just remember that the city is home to several James Beard Foundation Award winners and nominees. That this Southern city has its own cosmopolitan personality is another eye-opener to visitors. Golfers will relish the temperate climate and the opportunity to play two challenging courses, Oxmoor Valley and Ross Bridge, along Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The river is well-known for its prime fishing, and as the longest free-flowing river in the state, one canoe or kayak trip can yield dazzling results: Along with sightings of a range of plants, birds and other wildlife, rare white lilies bloom on the banks in summer. If you’re willing to go just a bit outside the city, the Cahaba River offers nature-lovers much to do. It’s easy to toss a ball around, or to quickly get to Regions Field to catch a Birmingham Barons minor league baseball game. This nearly eight-hectare greenspace features a Rail Trail, scenic wetlands, open lawn and great views of the city. Think of downtown’s Railroad Park as a bridge between the city’s industrial roots and its fun-loving, outdoorsy side. At 17 meters high, Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue and presides over both a park and an interactive museum dedicated to telling Birmingham’s story. Iron made such a mark on this city that Vulcan Museum & Park acknowledges it with a towering statue of Vulcan, Roman god of fire and forge. Learn about the furnace plant’s 90-year history, marveling at the pipes and smokestacks as well as the modern metal artworks on display. Nearby, Sloss Furnaces, an old ironworks and now National Historic Landmark, offers a look at the city’s industrial past. In the Civil Rights District, recently named a National Monument, visit important historical sites like the 16 th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park. Children’s activities, traveling exhibits and events round out this dynamic museum. Birmingham’s prominent role in the USA’s Civil Rights Movement is commemorated at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, where exhibits explore the movement’s rise. ![]()
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