 Main entrance to the Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham. |
 A wall of baseballs autographed by Negro League players. |
 One of many exhibits within the museum. |
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Main entrance to the Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham. |
A wall of baseballs autographed by Negro League players. |
One of many exhibits within the museum. |
According to the museum, they seek to show the history of African-American baseball through the eyes of Birmingham. The Negro Southern League (1920-51) was established as a feeder league to the Negro National League and Negro American League that were being established at the same time, in an effort to duplicate the structure of Organized Baseball. While the initial focus was on the Negro Southern League, the museum has expanded its reach to the beginnings of black baseball in Birmingham in 1897, and forward to the present day and the African Americans from Birmingham who have played in Major League Baseball. The museum also pays tribute to the city's semi-pro industrial league, which continues to this day.
The museum claims to have the largest collection of Negro League artifacts in the nation, a claim the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City might dispute. Other differences between this museum and the older one are that photography is permitted here, and admission is free (though donations are encouraged). There is also an area where visitors can research Negro League history via computer terminals.