Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve in Birmingham’s South East Lake neighborhood spans 1,038 acres and combines natural habitat with the legacy of the region’s mining and industrial development. Survey work in 1883 by William Henry Ruffner and John L. Campbell helped attract investment to Birmingham’s mineral resources, and nearby mines later renamed Ruffner operated until June 1, 1953. After mining ceased, the land slowly reverted to woodland. Preservation efforts began in 1977, turning former mining roads into trails and revealing fossil-rich quarry walls. Expanded in the 1980s and again in 2000, the preserve now offers hiking trails, native wildlife, and a modern visitor center.