Birmingham to Trenton train

Birmingham may not be the capital of Alabama, but it does hold the crown as both the cultural and entertainment capital of the Cotton State. The second-most populous city, Birmingham was founded during the Reconstruction Period, which followed the American Civil War.

Quietly going about its business as an industrial powerhouse, producing much of America's iron and steel, Birmingham didn't enter the world's consciousness until the Civil Rights Movement one hundred years later. It’s one of the 8 iconic cities on our Martin Luther King, Jr. road trip, as it’s the city where Dr. King wrote his famous “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” When visiting, be sure to stop at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to learn more about the city’s civil rights history.

Today known as America's 'Magic City,' new life has been blown into downtown Birmingham in recent years. Its streets have been cleaned up, allowing the city's historical gems such as the Alabama Theater to shine once more both by day and by night.

The Birmingham Museum of Art contains the most extensive collection of artworks in the southeastern United States. It's connected to the nightlife districts of Five Points South, Lakeview, and Uptown by a series of charming tree-lined public squares. Close by Five Points South also lies Red Mountain's Vulcan Park, home to the world's largest cast-iron statue. It was made for the St. Louis World Fair of 1904.

Birmingham is an important regional hub linking the Deep South, the Appalachian Mountains, and Piedmont. Travelers can easily reach other noteworthy destinations in the U.S., including Dallas, Phoenix, and Montgomery, thanks to the hundreds of bus and train routes to and from Birmingham.

Trenton is New Jersey's capital, and for a period of two months in 1784, it was the capital of the United States. The city is located between New York City and Philadelphia and is separated from the state of Pennsylvania by the Delaware River. One of the most recognizable landmarks in Trenton is the New Jersey State House, constructed in 1792. It is the third-oldest state house in the country, and tours of the building share New Jersey history. For more New Jersey history in an even older building, visit the William Trent House, built in 1719. The founder of Trenton, William Trent, and three governors have occupied the house in its long history. It is now a museum offering tours and insight into early American life.

Cadwalader Park is a 100-acre park in Trenton, planned by the same man who designed Central Park in New York City. Enjoy the park's grassy lawns, quiet stream, walking paths, and the Ellarslie Mansion at the center, now a museum of fine art.

Trenton's primary train station is the Trenton Transit Center, where Amtrak trains connect to other cities in the Mid-Atlantic. The closest airport to the city is the Trenton-Mercer Airport, but international flights arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport.