Semicentennial of Birmingham

The Semicentennial of Birmingham (Birmingham's 50th Anniversary or Golden Anniversary) was celebrated during 1921.

Most of the festivities that took place between October 24-27 in Woodrow Wilson Park (now Linn Park). Some of the events included a floral parade complete with a queen and a beauty pageant in the park. The highlight of the celebration was a visit by then-President Warren Harding and the First Lady on October 26. His motorcade rolled through downtown with Wilson Park being the final destination, where he would deliver a speech to the citizens of Birmingham. After the speech, the President laid the cornerstone of the grand Temple Theatre, which was later demolished to make way for the AmSouth-Harbert Plaza.

A large-scale Pageant of Birmingham was staged at the newly-built Avondale Park amphitheatre, featuring costumed actors retelling the story of the city. A 6,000 seat temporary grandstand was constructed to accommodate the crowds.

The occasion inspired resident Idyl King Sorsby to design what has since been adopted as the Flag of Birmingham, and to propose that December 19, the date of the city's incorporation, be honored as "Birmingham Day".

References

• Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce (1976) Century Plus: A Bicentennial Portrait of Birmingham, Alabama 1976 Birmingham: Oxmoor Press, p. 16.