THE VULCAN STATUE – BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

The Vulcan statue, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is 56-foot tall statue of the Roman god Vulcan, god of the fire and forge. It is the city symbol of Birmingham, reflecting its roots in the iron and steel industry. It was created as Birmingham’s entry for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 World’s Fair). The completed weight of the god Vulcan’s figure alone is 100,000 pounds. When Vulcan’s anvil, block, hammer and spearpoint are added, the statue weighs a total of 120,000 pounds. It stands on a pedestal that is 123-feet tall. The statue has a chest circumference of 22 feet 6 inches and a waist circumference of 18 feet 3 inches. The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world and the largest metal statue ever made in the United States.