Sloss Quarters

20 32nd St. N.
Birmingham, AL 35222

In operation for 90 years, Sloss Furnaces, which symbolizes the city’s industrial origins, were shut down in 1971. Sloss Quarters, the48 houses adjacent to furnaces, were designed specifically for black workers. They were typical shotgun-style structures, with two rooms set on foundation posts and no indoor plumbing. Despite the drawbacks, the Quarters provided a relatively cohesive community setting for workers and their families, a community where people had the same customs and shared the same burdens. Now open for tours, the facility is a unique community center hosting many area events.