Built in 1909 as one of the finest railway stations in the New South, for six decades Terminal Station served as Birmingham’s gateway to America, welcoming untold numbers of new residents and visitors to the “Magic City,” while witnessing thousands of young men and women go off to war.



Following World War II, as the traveling public abandoned trains for planes and automobiles, Terminal Station, like many other large rail stations, became increasingly obsolete and derelict. Finally, in 1969 the station was demolished to make way for a failed development scheme.



A half century later, the station’s loss is still decried as the greatest blow to the city’s architectural and cultural heritage, yet nothing of the station remains or marks where it once stood.



To honor the station's memory and commemorate its contribution to Birmingham’s development, the Jefferson County Historical Society ("JCHA") proposes to erect a historical marker at the location of the former "Magic City" sign at the foot of 5th Avenue North tunnel. The goal is to have the marker placed in 2019, to coincide with Alabama's Bicentennial Year. The estimated cost of the marker, which will be inscribed front and back with a brief history of the station, is $2500.



To assist with fundraising, the Birmingham Terminal Station Facebook group is initiating a GoFundMe account with the goal of raising the necessary funds by October 15th. Your donation by debit or credit card will be aggregated with other donations received by JCHA to fund the marker. Any funds remaining after purchase will be used to help establish a permanent Terminal Station exhibit at the Historic Southern Railway Depot in Leeds, Alabama.



Please note that your credit card donation is being made to an individual sponsor, therefore is not considered eligible for a charitable tax deduction. If you wish to make a tax deductible contribution, please mail your check directly to:



JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, ATTN: HARRY BRADFORD TREASURER, P.O. BOX 130285, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35213



It will only take 100 donations of $25 each to reach our goal of $2500 by October 15th! Please join our effort and lend your support to raising a permanent marker to honor Terminal Station, Birmingham's late "great temple of travel." DONATE TODAY AND PLEASE SHARE!

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