Mother's Day 1961: The Freedom Rides in Alabama

Please join us on Tuesday, February 14th from 12 noon - 1:00 p.m. for a presentation by Laura Anderson, Archivist at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.  The program will take a look at the making of history on
Mother's Day 1961, as two groups of passengers, known as the "Freedom Riders", boarded buses for
separate trips to Birmingham.  The program will include a slide show of photographs from a collection housed in the Archives of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.  Free admission.  Program sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

Sloss Furnaces Program

Sloss Furnaces, which produced iron for nearly 90 years beginning in April, 1882, contributed to the development of the city of Birmingham.  Please join us on Thursday, January 12th from 12 noon - 12:45 p.m. for a PowerPoint program presented by Heather Guy, Education Coordinator for Sloss Furnaces.  The program will  focus on the history and preservation of the site.

A Christmas Memory

Join us as Dolores Hydock, actress and storyteller, presents "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote on Tuesday, December 6th at 12 noon - 12:45. This largely autobiographical story, which takes place in the 1930's, focuses on country life, friendship, and the joy of giving during the Christmas season.  Free admission.  Sponsored by the "Friends of the Bessemer Public Library."

"Friends of the Library" Book and Bake Sale

Calling all book lovers!  Come check out the great deals at our biggest book sale ever!  Nothing over $1.00!  For the best selection come to our preview sale from 5 - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 1st.  There is a $1.00 admission charge to the preview sale only.  Books and baked goodies will be sold on Friday, December 2nd from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday, December 3rd from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Southern Museum of Flight program

On Thursday, November 10th at 12:00 p.m., Brian Barsanti, Director of Education for the Southern Museum of Flight, will present a slide show highlighting the exhibits and educational programs offered by the Museum.  Please join us for an entertaining and educational program.  Admission is free.

School Spirits: Ghost Stories from Alabama's Campuses

On Thursday, October 27th from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Dr. Alan Brown, professor of English at the University of West Alabama, will present a program sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Foundation.  Alabama's colleges and universities have generated a body of ghostlore that reflects the state's long history of higher education, war and racial strife.  Many of the state's signature ghost stories originated in late-storytelling sessions in college dormitories and apartment houses.  Every college campus has at least one resident ghost.  This presentation will focus on Alabama's most haunted colleges and universities and include slides of each site.  Free admission.

Bessemer Hall of History program

Find out some unique history facts about the city of Bessemer.
On Tuesday, September 27th from 12 noon until 12:30 p.m., Chris Eiland,
Curator of the Bessemer Hall of History, will present a program on the
history of Bessemer through photographs, which will include old documents
and a map of Bessemer around 1888.  Free admission.