Bordered by the foothills of the enchanting Appalachian Mountains, Birmingham is Alabama's largest city and the regional hub of cultural activity. Containing many picturesque community parks, Vulcan Park is one of the city's most famous. Its towering statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of metalworking, is a well-known symbol of the once-industrial city. A key site in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the city holds a number of important historic sites and moving museums, such as the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Birmingham's association with both historical legacy and modern culture is apparent in the range of festivals that take place throughout the year, from the eclectic Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival to the Southern Heritage Festival which takes great pride in community traditions.
Birmingham Police are investigating the city's 36th homicide of 2008. Lieutenant Henry Irby says Denice Dixon, 28, was found shot to death in her home in the 2600 block of 29th Street in Ensley.
