Vulcan statue undergoes painting and upgrades

Birmingham's Vulcan statue is receiving a fresh coat of paint, while the historic 1930s pedestal undergoes routine maintenance and receives a treatment that will improve the pedestal's resilience to weather conditions. During this process, which is expected to last until April 9, Vulcan's Observation Balcony will be closed to the public on weekdays only. The Balcony will reopen each weekend from 5 p.m. Friday through 10 p.m. Sunday.  The surrounding park grounds and Visitor Center Museum will not be affected and will remain open during normal operating hours. Because visitors will not have access to Vulcan's Observation Balcony, general weekday admission to Vulcan Park and Museum will be reduced to $3 and include admission to Vulcan Center Museum. (Normal daytime admission is $6.) Vulcan is the world's largest cast iron statue and weighs over 50 tons. This is the first paint job Vulcan has received since being restored and replaced on his pedestal in 2003. "As far as timing goes, we are right on track with what was anticipated in the long-term maintenance plan for Vulcan," says Audra Bean, Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Vulcan Park and Museum. "Mother Nature will always be a factor with Vulcan's appearance, therefore it is expected that Vulcan will need a fresh coat of paint periodically in order to keep our city symbol looking his absolute best." Once the painting of the statue is complete, Vulcan's 1938 WPA-era sandstone pedestal will be cleaned and a waterproofing sealant will be applied to reduce water infiltration into the inner staircase and preserved marble landing.

For more information on Vulcan Park and Museum please see www.visitvulcan.com