BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A historic discovery was uncovered inside one of the city’s first skyscrapers that is currently being renovated.

The Frank Nelson building on 20th Ave North was built in 1903 and is now known simply as “The Frank.” The Orchestra Group is remodeling the building while aspiring to stay true to its historic charms. A historic map of Birmingham was recently discovered hidden underneath wood siding in the first floor lobby.

“We don’t really know how old it is,” Jeremy Pearson, a development associate with The Orchestra Group, said. “So we did a little bit of research, I found a similar map from 1919 that had a lot of the same routes; however, on our “Facebook post, someone mentioned that they didn’t assign numbers until 1920.”

Pearson hopes members of the public will be able to help them track down the origin of the map.

Time has taken its toll on the map; however, and certain areas are peeling or appear to have been removed. Pearson said there are also concerns about what is not visible to the naked eye.

“Any material –when you’re talking about stuff that’s that old — hazardous material comes into question: Asbestos,” Pearson said. “So we just need to make sure that the material that map was made of doesn’t contain any of those hazardous materials.”

Regardless, members of The Orchestra Group hope to re-imagine the map in some way and keep it at The Frank. The map is just one of many historical items found inside the 115-year-old building.

“So, in the basement, we have a lot of old fallout shelter supplies, med supplies, and stuff like that which are really cool,” Pearson said. “In the mechanical rooms, you have stuff that we haven’t seen in decades. So everything about this building is awesome.”

The Orchestra Group has renovated other historic buildings in the area, including the Woolworth in 5 Points South. Pearson said their goal is to increase walkability in Birmingham so that people will spend hours instead of minutes in the city.

“We just want to build, you know, cool stuff around town that people want to experience,” Pearson said. “Not just drive in, hit up a joint, then head back home. We want someone to park, and you know, walk around.”

The renovations at The Frank will be complted in two phases. Phase one is currently underway for the first and second floors.

Trattoria Centrale restaurant and the UPS Store will remain on the first floor and the upper floors will be converted in to modern office spaces with open floor plans.

The first phase of the project is expected to be complted by March or April. Phase two is expected to be complted by mid-2020.