USS Alabama—The USS Alabama was a battleship which played a
major role in World War II. The ship,
which was commissioned in 1942, saw many battles in the Philippines and the islands of the
Pacific. She has a storied history of
shooting down Kamikaze planes and protecting troops on the ground. The ship received nine battle stars on the
Asia-Pacific Service Medal.
Today, the battleship is docked in Mobile Bay
where thousands of tourists walk the same decks of the ships where men saw
battle during World War II. Visitors can
walk most of the ship, including see where the men ate, showered, lived, and
were cared for when they were sick.
Touring the ship is the true definition of taking a walk back in time.
In addition to the battleship, Battleship Park
also features a hanger full of planes from the World War II era. The park is also covered with tanks and other
machines from military history.
Finally, the park is also home to the USS Drum, a submarine
from World War II. Visitors can tour
this vessel and experience the close quarters in which the men who served
aboard the submarine lived and fought during the war.
Fort Conde—Fort
Conde dates back to the
early 1700’s when it protected the city from attack by the British and
Spanish. The fort, which covered about
11 acres of property, was constructed out of brick and stone. After being used by the French, British, and
Spanish, and the United
States, Congress authorized to dismantle the
fort in 1820 because it was no longer needed.
The fort which sits in downtown Mobile today is only a small replica of the
original. Here, visitors can look out
into the Mobile River from it perches. They can also tour the replica fort and see
artifacts from the original fort’s time period.
Visiting this fort truly gives tourists an idea of how Mobile mixed the modern world with its very
eclectic history.
Oakleigh Historic Complex—The Oakleigh Historic Complex is
actually three museums in one. The main
house, Oakleigh House, is a Greek revival home dating back to about 1833. In this home, visitors will experience
American and Empire furniture, collections of silver, china, jewelry, and even
timepieces.
The Cox-Deasy Cottage on the site dates back to 1850 and
shows visitors the typical life of a mid 19th century middle-class
family. In the museum, you will find
simple furniture from the period, along with personal items and portraits.
The third museum on the grounds pays tribute to a yearly
event that Mobile
is known for worldwide: Mardi Gras. The
Mardi Gras Cottage Museum features the history of Mardi Gras in Mobile. Visitors can see beautiful gowns and regalia
worn by Mardi Gras queens dating back to the 19th century. In addition, pictures and other items give a
history of this treasured Mobile tradition.
Bragg-Mitchell Mansion—In order to truly experience one of Mobile’s antebellum homes, the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion
is a must see. Inside, Visitors can tour
a home that was built in 1855. The home
features beautiful parlors and a large dinning room filled with antiques dating
back to the home’s period.
The grounds of this home are as beautiful as the home
itself. The property surrounding the
home features beautifully planted flowers and impressive oak trees. In fact, this home makes such a beautiful
backdrop, it is often used for weddings by local residents.