Birmingham has a vast array of historic buildings which not only portray the architectural variety of the business district but also reflect the hierarchical class structure and segregation of the races in the housing neighborhoods.  The Company Towns Tour started with a drive through Downtown Birmingham which has a large number of historic structures.  It next proceeded to the upper class residential area on the slopes of Red Mountain where many of the early captains of industry resided in impressive mansions (ostensibly above the pollution level from the iron furnaces and other industrial plants). The tour concluded with drives through some of the remaining working class housing areas.