Birmingham: Birthplace of Industry
Birmingham, England’s second largest city is considered to be the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. It was here that James Watt first used steam to power an engine for use in the area’s mining industry.
The Black Country Living Museum, located ten miles out of Birmingham, is a fantastic way for visitors to the city to discover it’s rich history. The area is called “Black Country” because of the thick black smoke that was constantly on top of the villages and coalfields during the Industrial Revolution. The museum is representative of life and work in the Birmingham area during the 1850’s. Guests will have the unique opportunity to ride a tram down into an underground coal seam and take a trolley through the reconstructed village. A working fabrication of a steam engine from 1712 is also on display.
But don’t be fooled into thinking that Birmingham is all about industry and mining. During the 18th century, the city was home to many of the century’s most prominent thinkers. Men such as James Watt, Charles Darwin, and others were members of the Lunar Society, a group of men who met at each cycle of the full moon. Thought by many to be crazy, history has proved otherwise.
Birmingham is also home to some of the greatest musicians and authors of the 20th century. Members of Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, and Duran Duran, along with the novelist Barbara Cartland, all call Birmingham home.
Visitors to the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution will find a modern city with an important historical past when visiting Birmingham.
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