Gardendale, Alabama: 125-Foot-Tall Cross

The cross can be seen clearly from Interstate 65 from both directions. If you are quick and lucky you can snap a picture of it while traveling by, but if you would rather see it up close you can visit the church parking lot to get up close and personal.

If you happen to be traveling through Alabama on Interstate 22 you can see another large cross, just north of Jasper -- so you don't have to detour to this one if it is just a cross you are after.

This cross is actually made from mild steel plate and just painted to look like stainless steel! It's 125 feet from the edge of the Alabama Dept. of Transportation right-of-way, and the spot was specifically chosen by the Alabama DOT to ensure that if the cross fell it would not fall on DOT property. It was fabricated in Mississippi by the Headrick company and transported in three pieces to the site (I was the project manager for fabricating and erecting this cross).

The flower garden at the entrance to the church was destroyed when the truck transporting the longest section could not turn the corner sharp enough.

Here's the stainless steel cross in the daytime.

It's a 125 ft. tall stainless steel cross strategically placed next to Interstate 65 for all the drivers to see. It was constructed in 2010. It is approximately 200 ft. from the Interstate. It's a sight to see during the daytime or at night when it is VERY well lit. If you want to see it without wrecking your vehicle, take the next exit, and you can drive right up to it. It is by the parking lot of the First Baptist Church of Gardendale North Campus.