Abandoned Birmingham [Paperback]

Founded in 1871 after the Civil War, Birmingham rapidly grew as an industrial enterprise due to the abundance of the three raw materials used in making steel--iron ore, coal, and limestone. Birmingham's rapid growth was due to the booming iron and steel industries giving it the nickname Magic City and Pittsburgh of the South. The city was named after Birmingham, England, as a nod to the major industrial powerhouse. The iron and steel industries began to dry up by the early 1970s, leaving behind dozens of abandoned structures that now dot the city's landscape. In the last several years, Birmingham has begun to experience a rebirth. Money has been invested in reconstructing the historic downtown area into a pedestrian-friendly mixed-use district. In Abandoned Birmingham, photographer Leland Kent gives the reader an in-depth look at the forgotten buildings and factories throughout the city.

Crumbling and abandoned buildings have been revealed in a series of haunting photos that show how a former industrial powerhouse city in America has fallen into decline. The haunting pictures from a new urban exploration book show an abandoned steel works, a bank vault inside the City Federal building and vintage furniture left behind in an office tower in Birmingham, Alabama....The stunning snaps are showcased in freelance photographer Leland Kent's, 34, new book, Abandoned Birmingham. Daily Mail

A lot of these places are worth being saved. They have a history to them, he said. A lot of places are, you know, too far gone now and maybe not by anybody's fault -- a lot of them happen ... just through neglect.



I feel like I'm kind of doing a favor by saving the place, saving the history of it. Inside Edition