Tennessee Coal Iron & Railroad stock certificate. This was one of the ORIGINAL DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE STOCKS. The Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company (TCI) was a major industrial firm founded in 1852 in Tennessee, later based in Birmingham, Alabama. Originally established as a mining company, TCI played a pivotal role in the development of the southern United States’ iron and steel industry, contributing to the region’s industrialization. The company mined coal, iron ore, and limestone, and its operations included large-scale iron and steel production. By the late 19th century, TCI had become one of the largest industrial enterprises in the South. In 1892, TCI relocated its headquarters to Birmingham, Alabama, where it became the backbone of the city’s booming steel industry. The company’s extensive mining operations and steel mills contributed to Birmingham’s nickname, the Pittsburgh of the South. TCI was instrumental in building the city’s economy and infrastructure, becoming one of the largest employers in the region. Its workforce consisted largely of African American and immigrant laborers, many of whom worked under difficult conditions in mines and mills. The turning point for TCI came in 1907 when it was acquired by U. Steel, the largest steel company in the country, as part of a deal during the Panic of 1907. This acquisition marked a significant moment in U. Industrial history, as it solidified U. Steel’s dominance and helped stabilize the American economy during a financial crisis. Steel, TCI continued to operate as a subsidiary, maintaining its focus on coal mining and steel production. Throughout the 20th century, TCI remained a key player in the steel industry, though its significance diminished as the U. Steel sector faced challenges from global competition and changing economic conditions. TCI’s legacy is deeply tied to the industrial growth of the South, particularly in Birmingham, where its contributions to infrastructure, economy, and labor shaped the region’s development. Today, the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company is remembered as a critical force in the industrialization of the southern U. With its impact felt in the development of steel, railroads, and the mining industries that helped transform the American economy during the Industrial Revolution.