High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world, and is the city symbol of Birmingham, Alabama, reflecting its roots in the iron and steel industry. The 56-foot (17 m) tall statue depicts the Roman god Vulcan, god of the fire and forge. It was created as Birmingham`s entry for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 World`s Fair) in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the seventh-tallest free-standing statue in the United States.