Mobile Alabama History Tour

Entries on This Tour

1. Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Passenger Terminal

This handsome building was constructed in 1907 by the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, which, in 1940, merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad to form the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad. Architect P. Thorton Marye designed the station in the Spanish Revival style, giving it its unique appearance. Today it is the home of the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, which is a government agency that facilitates community development, employee and economic development, grant administration, senior social services, and transportation planning. The station, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, is one of the two largest train stations in the state.

2. Richards DAR House Museum

This historic home is one of the dozens that comprise the De Tonti Square Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home was built in 1860 for Charles Richards, a steamboat captain, and his wife, Caroline. It is owned and operated as a period house museum by the city's five chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The exterior features a two-story veranda with ornate cast-iron railings that depict the four seasons. The interior features beautiful elements as well, including carrara marble mantels, brass, bronze and crystal chandeliers, and silver bells once used to call servants.

3. John A. Campbell U.S. Courthouse

An imposing and dominant building in downtown Mobile, this courthouse stands as a landmark of Modern Classic federal architecture and Neo-Classical Revival of the 1930s. Built between 1933 and 1934 this courthouse originally served as a dual purpose US Customs House and federal courthouse. The Customs Service later vacated the building to expand their operations. Following the departure of the Customs Service the building was renamed to the “John A. Campbell United States courthouse.” John A. Campbell was notable for being an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court from 1853 to 1861, for abandoning that post to serve as the Confederate Assistant Secretary of War, and for being one of three Confederate officials who met with Lincoln in 1865 in an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate an end to the Civil War. After decades of service, this courthouse was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

4. Slave Market Marker

This marker serves to remind citizens of Mobile of the history of slavery in the city. Plantations in mobile had slaves from roughly 1721 up to the Civil War and even imported more kidnapped Africans just before war broke out. In an 1860 census it was reported that 435,080 slaves lived in Mobile. The history of slavery in Mobile is horrific, this marker serves as a testament to the people who overcame this struggle and to those who died in bondage.

5. Historical Marker: The Hunley

This marker indicates the location of one of the more important sites in the history of naval warfare. It was here that the Hunley—the first submarine to sink an enemy ship—was built. Under the direction of Confederate engineers Lts. W.A. Alexander and G.E. Dixon, the machine shop Park and Lyons built the the vessel in July 1863. They used a ship's steam boiler which was 25ft. long and 4ft. in diameter. It was not powered by machinery but by hand cranking. It could hold a crew of up to eight men and the only light was a candle, which also indicated how much oxygen was left if the flame was becoming more dim. On February 17, 1864, the Hunley made its way towards the USS Housatonic and embedded a torpedo into its hull which was supposed to go off in 5 minutes. For some reason, tragically the vessel was too close to the explosion and all of the crew were killed. The Hunley was recovered in 2000 and is still being restored and conserved the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in Charleston, South Carolina. The Hunley is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

6. Battle House Hotel

The original Battle House Hotel was opened by James Battle and his two half-nephews, John and Samuel, in 1852. The original building burned down in 1905 and was replaced by the construction of this building in 1908. It is currently called the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and Spa.

7. History Museum of Mobile

This historic Greek Revival building was once home to Mobile's City Hall and now serves as the History Museum of Mobile which includes artifacts and exhibits that share the early history of the city. The museum's collection has grown to over 90,000 artifacts that represent the long and diverse history of the city of Mobile. The building was constructed between 1855 and 1857 to serve as both an indoor marketplace for Mobile and to hold offices for the city government. The building replaced an open-air market on the site after an Alabama Supreme Court ruling restricted open-air markets. The building also served the headquarters for local militia units, a role that became increasingly prominent during the Civil War. On December 13th, 1969, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

8. Fort Condé

Fort Condé, or Fort Carlota under Spanish Rule, and Fort Charlotte under British and American rule, is a replica of the original French Fort Condé built in 1720. Visitors of the fort are able to learn about the people who colonized early Mobile, Alabama and look through historical artifacts of Native Americans and Europeans, who played key roles in the evolution of the city. The fort was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

9. Conde–Charlotte House Museum

The Conde–Charlotte House is a period house museum reflecting French, Spanish, English, American, and Confederate influences. It was built in 1822 as a courthouse and jail and expanded to a full house in 1850. The museum features period rooms: French sitting rooms and bedroom, an English commandant's room, a walled Spanish garden, an American dining room, and two Confederate parlors. Many unique furnishings are on display including a late 18th/early 19th century tea set, and the wedding dress worn by Willis Nobbs who in 1776 married Dr. Robert Hall (the dress was radiocarbon dated to prove its age), who served as a surgeon for the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

10. Mobile Carnival Museum

The Mobile Carnival Museum opened in 2005 and features a collection dedicated to sharing the story of Mobile's Mardi Gras traditions. The museum is located in the historic Bernstein-Bush house and is operated by the Mobile Carnival Association and a team of volunteers. The collection has been donated by "Monarchs" and local mystic organizations of Mobile. Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile represent tradition and diversity within the city.

11. Government Street Presbyterian Church

This church was built between 1836 and 1839 by the Independent Protestant Church. The building features a distinctive Greek portico held by Ionic pillars. The congregation is one of the oldest in the area and the structure is one of the oldest and least-altered Greek Revival church buildings in the United States. Although some aspects of the interior have changed over the years, the congregation still sits in the original high-backed walnut pews that were used in the decades prior to the Civil War.

12. Historical Marker: Le Marquis de Lafayette visited Mobile

On April 7, 1825, Frenchman and American Revolutionary War general, the Marquis de Lafayette (his full name was Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier), arrived in Mobile as part of a grand tour of the United States. The year 1825 was the 50th anniversary of the war and the Marquis was invited by President James Monroe to honor his role in the war as well to promote patriotism among Americans—i.e. the "Spirit of 1776". The Marquis attended a banquet and ball, and was also entertained at this location (now the property of the Hilton Hotel), on which stood the home of Mayor Samuel H. Garrow.

13. Historical Marker: Wallace Turnage

This marker commemorates the remarkable story of Wallace Turner, an enslaved African American who managed to escape to freedom in July-early August 1864. At this location once stood the home of Collier Minge, Wallace's last owner. Wallace tried to escape slavery four times before being successful on the fifth. He was driving his owner's carriage home when a harness broke, flipping the carriage over on its side. Wallace was nearly killed by a passing carriage. When he arrived at the home, Collier's wife scolded him. Wallace replied aggressively, and then ran off. He was discovered a week later, taken to a "whipping house" and whipped 95 times by Collier, who then told Wallace to walk home. However, Wallace did not and began his long journey to freedom. Eventually, he made his way to Fort Gaines, which was recently captured by Union forces, where he finally obtained his freedom.

14. Bishop Portier House

Constructed in 1834 and located adjacent to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Bishop Portier House serves as a central landmark to Catholic history in Mobile. The home was built to house the new Bishop of Mobile Michael Portier who was also responsible for the founding of Spring Hill College and the development of Catholic architecture in Mobile. The cottage served as the place of rest for Bishops of Mobile until 1906 when the building began being rented as a residential family building. The Bishop Portier House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and features many elements of Gulf Coast residential architecture.

15. Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is one of Mobile's most impressive structures. It was designed in the Greek Revival style, featuring a front facade resembling an ancient Greek temple with Doric columnns, and two flanking towers. It took fifteen years to build, from 1835-1850. The interior is also striking. Corinthian columnns support the arched roof and stained glass windows, made in Munich, Germany, are located on the walls on each side of the building. The cathedral has also had an organ since its completion (the original one was destroyed by a fire in 1954). The cathedral is part of the Church Street East Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Just in front of the building is a historical marker offering a brief history of the cathedral and the archdiocese.

16. Scottish Rites Temple

Built-in 1921 this Egyptian revival building was previously used as a site for the local freemasons society, specifically the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. The temple was used for the society until WW2 when the US Army used the building as an aviation interceptor center, after the war the building was returned to the freemasons. In 1996 the Scottish Rite could no longer maintain the temple and it was sold to a private owner for use as an event venue.

17. Bettie Hunter House

This beautiful two-story Italianate style home was built by a Black businesswoman and ex-slave Bettie Hunter who had moved to Mobile after the Civil War to find her fortune. With the help of her two brothers Henry and Robert, she started and managed a successful hack and carriage business transporting goods from the port to warehouses and the local market. With the fortune she amassed, she was able to purchase the piece of land for her home at auction, commission an architect, and build the home at the age of 26. Hunter died of anemia a year later at the age of 27, leaving her newly built home to her mother, brothers, and other family members. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 7th, 1985. Today the building remains in the Hunter family who hope to restore the home to its former glory.

18. Turner-Todd Motor Company Building

Standing on historic “Automobile Alley,” the Turner-Todd Motor Company building was constructed in 1926 for use as a car dealership. The building would serve as a dealership for Buicks until the company closed its doors in 1943. After Turner-Todd’s shutdown, the building would become host to several auto parts stores until 2002. The building was then left vacant for 13 years until 2015 and it was renovated to become office space.

19. State Street AME Zion Church

Constructed in 1854, this historic structure is the oldest Methodist church building in Mobile, Alabama. The church is notable not only for its age but also for its size and the success of its members in securing title to the building after they broke from the white-led Methodist church leadership after the Civil War. The congregation dates back to the 1820s and had been utilizing a previous building for its meetings until 1854 when that structure was lost in a fire The congregation was one of two Methodist churches established in Mobile before the Civil War. In 1978, the structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places for architectural and religious significance.

20. International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) Hall

The Mobile chapter of the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) Hall was established in 1936 to represent African Americans working on the city's docks. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke here on January 1, 1959.

21. National African-American Archives & Multicultural Museum

This archive and museum is located in the former Davis Avenue Branch of the Mobile Public Library which was established in 1931 and served as a branch library for African American patrons until the 1960s when the library ended its policy of segregation. The library was the result of a campaign led by African American residents who were previously not served by Mobile Public Library. The building was designed by George B. Rogers, a Mobile architect who had previously built the library's main branch. Designed in a period when the city's public buildings featured classical revival architecture, the building cost a total of $26,000 and contained only three rooms when first constructed. After the city library ended its policy of segregation in 1964, the building was re-purposed for the storage of government documents. In 1992, the city council of Mobile leased the library to the National African-American Archives & Multicultural Museum which offers a variety of exhibits that interpret the history of African Americans in Mobile and throughout the United States.

22. Stone Street Baptist Church

Stone Street Baptist Church is an African American Baptist church located in Mobile, Alabama. The congregation was established before the American Civil War, but the church itself was established in 1843. The African American church was established from the Saint Anthony Baptist Church when white representatives of the church purchased a piece of land for the establishment of a separate African American church.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Mobile Alabama History Tour

Created by Clio Admin on November 19th 2020, 6:15:42 pm.

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Description

This extended walk or drive through Mobile is just over four miles and begins at the same place where many visitors to the city first arrived, the Gulf Mobile, and Ohio Passenger Terminal. The tour includes stops at some of the city's leading museums and historic sites such as Fort Conde and returns near the starting point with stops at several historic churches and the African American Archives Mobile. of

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Entries on This Tour

Mobile Alabama History Tour

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