I finally made my way into the Birmingham Museum of Art after driving past it for years like,…read more"Yeah, I'll get to that one day..." Well, that day finally came--and turns out, I've been sleeping on a gem this whole time. First off, free admission? That'll get your attention quicker than a "buy one get one" sign. But seriously, this place is legit. It may not be on the scale of New York City or Chicago, but it absolutely punches above its weight. Birmingham quietly flexing, and I respect it. I started out in the sculpture garden, and with it being spring, the blooming dogwood trees added a layer of nostalgia that hit just right. Between the flowers, the fresh air, and the artwork, it was one of those "slow down and take it in" moments. Not bad for a place I used to ignore at red lights--or even flying past it doing 80 on 59/20. Inside, the collections are surprisingly deep and diverse. European, American, African, Asian--you name it. I spent a good bit of time in the African galleries, which meant a lot to me having traveled to Tanzania several times. It's one thing to read about cultures, but seeing the art up close brings a whole different level of appreciation. They also had a traveling exhibit featuring Claude Monet, and I'll just say--pictures don't do that justice. The way he plays with light and color is something you've got to see in person. The Renaissance pieces were another highlight, especially the Madonna and Child panels. You can actually see the craftsmanship in the materials--it makes you realize these artists weren't just talented, they were patient... like next-level patient. There's also a really cool mix of American artwork that captures early Alabama life. One painting in particular shows a whole social scene--different classes, different backgrounds--all in one place. It's like a historical snapshot, and honestly, probably more accurate than some of the stories we've all heard growing up. Now let's talk about the staff--because that matters. Every person I interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and actually knew their stuff. I asked a few questions, and instead of getting a quick "I think so," I got detailed answers that made the experience even better. That's the kind of thing you remember. Swing by the gift shop or grab a snack on the second floor--they're ready to welcome you. What I appreciated most was how the museum connects everything. You walk through different cultures, different time periods, and somehow it all ties back to the same themes--faith, identity, daily life, legacy. Makes you realize people haven't changed all that much... we've just gotten better at Wi-Fi. Walking out, I couldn't help but laugh a little--I've passed this place for years and had no idea what I was missing. Safe to say, I won't make that mistake again. In fact, this was my second visit in less than a month. If you're local or just passing through Birmingham, this place is absolutely worth your time. Take it from someone who learned the hard way--don't wait as long as I did. Well done, Birmingham!

We decided to visit the museum to see their 'Monet to Matisse' exhibit. I checked occasionally in…read morethe week leading up to our visit. Their website displays how many tickets are remaining for the day. I wanted to ensure this wasn't selling out for our day, in which case I'd have bought tickets in advance online. However, they still showed over 1000 tickets available the day before, so I opted to just buy them at the museum. We had issues with navigation in Birmingham already, and those continued en route to the museum. For whatever reason, the app directed us over a mile beyond downtown and then had us get off the highway, cross the overpass, and double back (?). We actually switched apps a bit later as we were sure there was an issue. We eventually found the museum, though. It wasn't obvious from the front, but apparently the museum does have its own free parking lot behind the building. We ended up parking in a deck a few blocks away, but thankfully that only ended up costing us $3. The museum is normally free for entry, I believe. Donations are encouraged. However, for special travelling exhibits, there was a charge (about $25 per person). This was handled at a kiosk just outside the exhibit. We toured the exhibit and enjoyed it. Works were arranged in 3 large rooms. It was crowded, but manageable. After seeing that, we opted to check out some of the permanent collection before leaving. On the upper level (where we were) there are several rooms devoted to Asian arts (samurai armor from Japan, jade and buddha statues from China, etc.). Korea and India were also represented. If we'd had more time, we would have explored more on this floor. We descended to the first floor and checked out some of the European galleries as well as the end of the wing that is devoted to American art. They had interesting works on all these areas. If I lived in the area, I'd likely come here to check out the permanent collection. Maybe we'll be back at some point to see more of it. This was well worth stopping by if you like art. (I will limit my photos to the permanent collection.)

I live abroad so I unfortunately haven't been able to visit the center myself. When I tried to…read morepurchase some gift card for tickets for friends who recently had moved to the area, I ran into some problems with the payment. I immediately received help from their very friendly staff, and their e-commerce expert Evan worked relentlessly to get the issue solved for me. I very much appreciated his kindness and helpfulness. I later heard from my friends that they have visited there before with their kids. They both have scientific backgrounds, so this also gives some indication on the quality of the exhibitions and visitor experience.

Always a great time with the family! So many things to do and see for adults and kids! No one is…read moregoing to be bored here

Have stayed there many times when Mr Wise was living. An absolutely amazing experience. Have stayed…read morein the cabin many times. It is well worth the trip!

There are ghosts there...went with a friend and her paranormal group and was very excited at the…read morethings seen and heard. Being actual Civil War items doesn't hurt this ghost hunting team. Was excited at the prospect of seeing and/or hearing anything paranormal and was fortunate to both see and hear several things. The museum itself is amazing for any history buff and you won't be disappointed in searching out this 'little hole in the wall' museum. The owner can tell you about EVERYTHING there. All items are authentic, no replicas!

This is a great museum! I've been coming here since I was a child and they've done a great job of…read moreimproving it and changing the exhibits for the better. I especially love how much they incorporate local natural features, live caves and all of the incredible natural diversity in the state. They really do a good job of going from local to global natural history. Also, they one of the largest collections of bird specimens, even including some extinct birds. And, we can't forget the Bird of Prey trail behind the museum with resident bird ambassadors! The Educational Interpreters work with the birds and do such a fantastic job presenting. I highly recommend the Creature Feature and Saturday Alive! programs - check out their website at exploreamag.org to see descriptions of all the live animal ambassadors. Lots of fun stuff for the kids both at the museum and all the extra programs offered!

This museum is great everytime.It has a very large collection of animals,birds,reptiles from around…read morethe world.It has 2 Egyptian mummies.Dinosaurs,a living cave,etc.The Berman Museum is next door and has a huge weapon collection.The grounds are a very beautiful park with picnic tables in the shade.Check out my next ,The Working Man Review.

What an amazing museum! What a great collection of artifacts, especially if you are into guns and…read moreweaponry. My two sons and I had a great time in the museum and what a cool story about Mr. and Mrs. Berman. Highly recommend a visit!

If interested in firearms this place is a great find. We were very impressed with the collection…read moreand displays. There was also an Asian artifact section that had some interesting pieces. We got there late in the day and wanted to do both museums ... so we spent one hour in each. Could have spent 1.5-2 hours and really took time going through and reading the info. Great deal getting the two museum passport - it was only $12 for both.

Museum is small but so is the ticket price. Large skeleton was cool and the replicas of the field…read morecamp and dinosaurs skull was cool. Nice break from the road for an hour.

From the owner: Our organization includes the oldest museum in Alabama, a 185-acre park on the former site of the…read morepolitical and ceremonial center of a vast Native American chiefdom, an Emmy Award-winning public television series, the oldest structure on the University of Alabama campus, one of only a handful of UA buildings that survived the Civil War, and the only museum tracing Tuscaloosa's history through the development of its transportation systems. Through our two "behind the scenes" divisions, we also develop interdisciplinary research programs focusing on museum-based research and provide archaeological and historic research and cultural resources management services to federal, Native American tribal, state, and local governmental agencies. For general information about our museums, departments, and programs, visit our webpage. How We Came to Be UA Museums as we currently know it -- a collection of multiple museums under a single administrative umbrella -- stems from a reorganization in 1990. Prior to that all the museums were under the Alabama Museum of Natural History at UA. Until 1961 the museum(s) were part of the Geological Survey of Alabama, reflecting the museums' roots in the work of pioneering geologist E.A. Smith. In 2017 UA Museums joined the College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama's largest division and the academic core of the University. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Attended a group's anniversary party at this location. It was my first time visiting this museum…read moreand it was interesting. There were different styles of planes and I saw at least 1 helicopter. The tables were spaced around the planes. I saw gift shops. Nice place to visit

Very very nice museum. We visit it with a friend who is in…read morethe Air Force so it was so nice to have our private guide who knows close to everything. Staff are very friendly. Very nice planes, nice setups.

Really cool. Beautiful at night with the old pumps, lights, and cars. They apparently change out…read morethe few cars there. We happen to pass it going to look at Christmas lights and had to go back and check it out. Looks like a visitor book inside. They decorated the windows for Christmas. Neat little time capsule really appreciated. If you have an old car I would stop in and get a pic in front of it. Worth checking out if driving my. Best at night.

I'm really not sure what the story is behind this place, but its pretty neat to drive by. I don't…read morethink you can go inside, its something to be enjoyed from the front. There is a manikin "working" inside the service station that's easier to see when it's lit up at night. I wouldn't go out of your way to see this place, but if you are on HWY 11 in Trussville, make sure to check it out. Whoever owns this, and put in the effort is pretty awesome. It looks fantastic!