Overview
Bessemer is an industrial city in Metropolitan Alabama, just outside of Birmingham.
2 sights · 2 things to do · 3 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Bessemer
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
Historical park just outside Bessemer that takes visitors back in time to the turn of the century when central Alabama was the iron capital of the south. Here there are great numbers of deer roaming about, several rivers…
Bessemer Hall of History
Small local history museum located in a former train station. Includes an exhibit on the Civil Rights movement exhibit, including a jail cell door from the cell where Martin Luther King Jr. was held in Bessemer.
Alabama Splash Adventure Theme Park
Right on the outskirts of Birmingham is Alabama Splash Adventure. Formerly known as VisionLand, this adventure consists of both a theme park and a waterpark for those hot summer days. Alabama Splash Adventure has over 7 …
Bessemer Civic Center
Hosts a variety of events.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 35°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Mar and Jul. (climate data from nearby Birmingham)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BHM Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham — 16 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MGM Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) Airport, Montgomery — 83 mi away. Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, Alabama Splash Adventure Theme Park
- Lunch Bob Sykes Barbeque
- Afternoon Bessemer Civic Center, Bessemer Hall of History
- Dinner The Bright Star
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Bessemer was the site of much of Alabama's 20th-century steel industry, the decline of which, beginning in the 1960s and '70s, has left in its wake a visible degree of economic problems for the local populace. Still, the city is of interest to aficionados of industrial history - and also foodies, being home to both Alabama's oldest operating restaurant and one of its most renowned barbecue joints.
Get in
See
See Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
Historical park just outside Bessemer that takes visitors back in time to the turn of the century when central Alabama was the iron capital of the south. Here there are great numbers of deer roaming about, several rivers, creeks and a bubbling spring, a fully functioning corn mill (with fresh corn meal available to purchase seasonly) and the remains of an iron factory. Museum, full hookup RV and tent camping and primitive camping. 'Tannehill Tradedays' occur the third Saturday of every month, March through November. Lots of backwoods hiking and walking trails. A hidden gem of a park in exchange for a 25-minute drive from downtown.
Do
Do Alabama Splash Adventure Theme Park
Right on the outskirts of Birmingham is Alabama Splash Adventure. Formerly known as VisionLand, this adventure consists of both a theme park and a waterpark for those hot summer days. Alabama Splash Adventure has over 7 acres of land filled with over 25 main attractions, including Alabama's largest wooden roller coaster.
Eat
Eat Bob Sykes Barbeque
The Sykes family - three generations of them - have been doing their thing in Bessemer since 1957, and their little joint on 9th Avenue sports the Atomic Age decor to prove it. Voted the best barbecue in Alabama on too many polls to name, the secret (as usual) is the sauce: a thin, spicy, tomato- and vinegar-based recipe that's a paragon of the local style (and that will come as a surprise to out-of-towners who are more used to the sticky Memphis and Kansas City style sauces), and that's used to adorn heaping platters of pork shoulder, ribs, and brisket along with various sandwiches and burgers.
Eat The Bright Star
Alabama's oldest operating restaurant, in business for over 100 years. The popularity of this restaurant encompasses all cultures and demographics. Tip: For lunch, enjoy the beef tips over rice. Just a good Southern meal accompanied by friendly service. There's a different menu during dinner with prices ranging from $15 to $23. The fried catfish is excellent and recommended by locals. There are always Greek-style offerings, in tribute to the heritage of the immigrant owners.
Eat Magic City Grille
This great, locally-owned "meat and three", very popular among business folks and other locals for a great lunch, will offer your fill of Southern fried chicken and other comfort and soul foods.
Nearby
Hoover
City / town · 11 listings · 9 mi away
Homewood
City / town · 10 listings · 10 mi away
Pelham
City / town · 2 listings · 12 mi away
Birmingham
City / town · 80 listings · 12 mi away
Rickwood Caverns State Park
Park · 33 mi away
Childersburg
City / town · 2 listings · 36 mi away
Tuscaloosa
City / town · 36 listings · 38 mi away
Clanton
City / town · 2 listings · 43 mi away
My experience
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