Mobile Day Trips

There are numerous Mobile Day Trips for you and your family to take, and they range from historical, scientific, war related, and some just plain old fun.

This historic town is the oldest city in the state of Alabama, as well as a major port facility not only for the state, but for the entire south.

Founded in 1702 by the French, it has over three centuries of rich history, and the ties to this port impact the economic prosperity of the entire surrounding area.

For over 300 years this hysteric city has been at the front of culture, economic, as well as political history, in what is referred to as the “Gulf Coast”.

This city is also considered to be one of the most culturally diverse in the entire south.

As a result of this, there are over 150 historic buildings as well as districts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It also hosted the first Mardi Gras festivals in the United States, before New Orleans, and it used to be the final destination for the last of African slaves brought to the United States before the Civil War.

The Early History of the Mobile

Mobile Bay Barges at the Mobile Day Trips

The early history of the Mobile all starts with the Spanish explorer Alonzo Alverez Pineda, who first explored the area in the year 1519.

He charted much of the Gulf of Mexico, and then two decades later, Hernando do Soto, visited the area in search for gold.

However, unlike Pineda, de Soto’s encounters with the local Indians that lived in the area at the time, were violent.

As a result, numerous Spanish troops and Indians were killed, and then to top that off, a major hurricane devastated the entire area.

French interests all over this early region led to the settlement of Mobile in the year 1702, by two naval heroes.

Early life in this new founded city was very difficult, as it was hit by frequent floods as well as numerous epidemics.

However, the real issue were the constant raids by the local American Indians, who were eventually defeated.

After serving stints as the capital of French Louisiana until 1720, and then the temporarily capital of British West Florida in the 1760, it officially became an America City in the year 1813.

By the 1820’s, the new city of Mobile had become a major exporting center not only for Alabama, but for the entire South, as it was exporting the booming cotton trade.

However, with the onset of the Civil War, all of that stopped, and the Battle of Mobile Bay shut down everything.

After this bloody war, the city was forced to rebuild a large portion of its famous port, but most of the city itself was not destroyed.

The Growth and Modernization of Mobile

Mobile Bay Aeriel View

The post-Civil War and the early years of what was called the New South, was not kind to this once bustling port city.

In fact, by the year 1879 it was on the verge of complete economic collapse, as well as bankruptcy.

To save the State’s only port system, the Alabama legislature repealed the city’s charter, and the state basically ran the city of Mobile.

This lasted until 1886, until the timber industry had replaced cotton as the chief export, and with municipal improvements, it was ready to move into the 20th century.

Progressive Era Politics helped develop the city in the earth 20th century, but war hit again with World War One.

The port again grew stagnant, and most all of the workers left the area, due to the decline in the port activity.

By now, there was a huge deficit of over 10,000 skilled port workers, until the Waterman Steamship Corporation was formed in 1919.

This quickly turned the tide in the City of Mobile, and it became so successful the Alabama State Docks were created in 1922.

Then in 1927 the Cochran Bridge was built and spanned 10 miles over the five rivers that flow into the Bay.

This very quickly added economic as well as civic benefits, and this set the stage for the 2000’s.

There have been numerous large industrial developments in the 2000’s, including the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, as well as natural gas platforms.

The workforce today is made up of education services, retail, arts and entertainment, professional and scientific services.

It also includes manufacturing, finance, as well as agriculture and wonderful fishing and hunting.

The Places to See on Your Mobile Day Trips

Peaceful Mobile Bay Day Trips

There are 10 very interesting places for you and your family to see on your Mobile Day Trips, and here are the first five.

The USS Alabama Memorial Park
The Mobile Museum of Art
The History Museum of Mobile
Gulf Quest
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center

The USS Alabama

Leading the list of Mobile Day Trips is the USS Alabama, which is the centerpiece of the city’s Veterans Memorial Park.

It holds the BB-60 battleship named ‘the Mighty A”, which was launched in 1942, and then decommissioned after the war.

The beautiful decks, turrets, mess and berth compartments are open for you and your family to tour, as well as the bridge and captain’s cabin.

The historic submarine the USS Drum is also on display, and the park also contains numerous aircraft and military weapons for you to enjoy.

The Mobile Museum of Art

The Mobile Museum of Art is next on the list of Mobile Days Trips, and this is located in Langan Park, and contains tens of thousands works of art that span over 2,000 years.

It features Decorative arts, African art, as well as Contemporary and American art.

It also has a large Native America collection, with numerous artifacts, as well as several early photographs and hand-colored lithographs.

It also has an entire exhibit hall for your children, to teach them the elements of art.

The History Museum of Mobile

The History Museum of Mobile is the next of the Mobile Day Trips, and this looks at the fascinating past of the area.

Its exhibits include Native Americas, the Colonial Period, the Civil War, the World War II efforts, as well as the Civil Rights Movement.

It also includes interesting artifacts form Old Mobile’s high society, as well as miniature houses, showing some of the finest mansions in detail.

Gulf Quest

Gulf Quest is next, and there is a wide variety of interactive and educational exhibits that explore the Gulf of Mexico.

It explores its natural habitats and weather, and your entire family can enjoy interactive displays like a steamboat station, and navigation games

There is also a submersible simulator to explore shipwrecks and coral reefs, as well as a boat piloting simulator to enjoy.

Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center

The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center is the next of the Mobile Day Trips, and this is the home to interactive science exhibits as well as an IMAX theater.

It also has an interactive life science lab, as well as topics that relate to the Gulf of Mexico.

The IMAX theater shows science-based films throughout the day.

The Final Five Places to See on Your Mobile Day Trips

Gulf Quest Entrance

Historic Districts
The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Mobile Bay
Hank Aaron Stadium
Fort Conde

Historic Districts

Leading this list of Mobile Day Trips is the Historic District, and there are seven designated districts.

Each has its own character and architectural heritage, and one of the highlights is in De Tonti Square.

Located in the downtown area, there are numerous Greek Revival, Italianate, and Victorian styles.

The Oakley Garden District covers over 60 blocks, and features mansions and cottages built between the 1830’s to the 1930’s.

Other historic districts include the Old Dauphin, the Church East Side, and the Lower Dauphin District.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the Mobile Days Trips and is a very popular tourists’ attraction you should not miss.

Established in 1704, it was moved in 1711 and features Roman Doric columns and two towers.

It has massive stained-glass windows that were first installed between 1890 and 1910, and there are 12 various scenes depicting the life of Mary.

Mobile Bay

Mobile Bay is the next of the Mobile Day trips, and it is a must see if you love beaches and historic sites.

The Dauphin Island bird sanctuary is located at the southwest entrance, as well as Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan.

Fairhope is also a must see, as it is located of high bluffs along the bay.

The other places to see include the Hank Aaron Stadium, the former home of the Mobile Bay Bears.

The original home of this superstar was built in 1942 by his father and was restored in 2010 as a museum that includes exhibits, memorabilia, as well as his 1957 Golden Glove Award.

Fort Conde, built by the French in1702 is next, and by 1823 all of the forts’ buildings were moved to build the downtown area.

Today’s Fort was reconstructed on a smaller scale and reopened in 1976 to give you a glimpse of life during the 18th century.

If you have never been to this historic city, these Mobile Day Trips are a great way to spend a weekend with you and your family.

References

Mobile | Encyclopedia of Alabama

https://www.mobile.org/things-to-do/

Related Pages

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The Dauphin Sea Lab is one of the most interesting science museums in the entire state, to help show and teach the public the state’s marine programs.