Thursday, September 10, 2009

Mobile Carnival Museum

The Mobile Carnival Museum highlights the history of Mardi Gras in its true birthplace - Mobile Alabama.

♦ Immerse yourself in the rich history and traditions of carnival.
♦ See firsthand the intricate designs and artistry of majestic crowns, scepters and robes of
Mardi Gras monarchs.
♦ Discover the art of costume design and float construction.
♦ View videos of parades and balls.
♦ Witness the pomp and pageantry of past coronations.
♦ Browse a pictorial gallery of historical photographs dating back to 1886.
♦ Experience a behind the mask view of the street party by climbing aboard a rocking float.
♦ Become a costumed youth rider in the Little Mystics Den.

About the Museum

General Information

Admission:
Adults: $5.00
Children 12 and under: $2.00
Under age 3: No charge

Accessibility:
The museum is wheelchair accessible on 2 of the 3 levels.

Hours:
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
(Last tour begins at 3:00 pm)


Closed: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
(*Private tours of 50 or more may be accommodated with advance arrangements.)
Holiday Hours 2009: The museum will be closed Memorial Day (May 25), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (September 7), Christmas (December 25-26), and New Years (December 31 and January 1).

Parking:
Complimentary parking at the on-site lot

Group Tours:
Group tours are welcome. Reservations are requested for groups of 10 or more. Groups can explore the museum at their leisure or opt for a docent guided tour.

School Tours:
School tours are tailored to the age of the students and to a particular area of study upon request. The Mobile Carnival Museum is located in the historic Bernstein-Bush house, and the mystical Den is the former carriage room of the house.

©2008 Mobile Carnival Museum - All Rights Reserved
355 Government Street - Mobile, Alabama - Telephone 251-432-3324

Text from http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Cathedral Square Downtown Mobile Historical






Cathedral Square is a municipal park in Mobile, Alabama. It is bordered by the streets of North Claiborne, Dauphin, North Jackson, and Conti.

History

At one time what is now Cathedral Square was part of Mobile's 18th century Catholic cemetery, the Campo Santo. The Campo Santo was roughly 400 feet (120 m) long by 300 feet (91 m) wide and filled portions of what are now several city blocks between Joachim, Dauphin, Franklin, and Conti Streets. Most of the burials were moved to the new Church Street Graveyard in 1819 as Mobile's city boundary expanded. A few graves continued to be accidentally unearthed along Conti Street as late as the 1890s, however.

The area that is now Cathedral Square quickly became a commercial block filled with buildings after the relocation of the cemetery. The buildings were then demolished in 1979 to create a public park facing the Cathedral. The current park layout was implemented in 1996.

Features

The park features a layout that mirrors the neighboring Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The brick sidewalks mirror the walls and nave of the cathedral while a semicircular colonnade featuring fountains mirrors the apse.





















































Text from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Square,_Mobile,_Alabama
Pictures taken locally on Sept 2, 2009


Bienville Square Downtown Mobile Historical


Bienville Square is a historic city park in the center of downtown Mobile, Alabama. Bienville Square was named for Mobile’s founder, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville. It takes up the entire block bordered by the streets of Dauphin, Saint Joseph, Saint Francis, and North Conception.

History

Bienville Square had its beginnings as a public park in 1824 when the United States Congress passed an act that transferred a large plot of land to the city of Mobile and specified that the property be forever used as a city park. This plot was the site of the old Spanish Hospital on the southwestern corner of the block, at the corner of Dauphin Street and North Conception Street. The city began buying the other lots in the block in 1834 and by 1849 held title to the entire block. The square was a primary gathering place for residents of the city from the 1850s to the 1940s. The late 1960s saw Bienville Square in its most run-down condition as people moved away from downtown to the suburbs. The revival of downtown starting in the 1980s saw the popularity of the park increase and its upkeep resumed.

Notable events

Theodore Roosevelt spoke in the square in 1905 about the importance of the Panama Canal to the port of Mobile. It was the site of many mass meetings by shipyard workers from Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company during World War II as the company experienced labor disputes.


In the 1850s walkways, a now removed cast iron fence, benches, and live oak trees were added. The large cast iron fountain with an acanthus leaf motif was added to the center of the square in the 1890s. A new bandstand was added to the park in 1941 to replace one from the Victorian era.


The square is used for many of the city's cultural functions:
Jazz in Bienville by the Gulf Coast Ethnic and Heritage Jazz Festival.
The annual Lighting of the Trees celebration and the lighting of Mobile's official Christmas tree.
Kids Day in Bienville Square.
The square is the epicenter for Mobile's annual Bayfest Music Festival.

Text from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bienville_Square







Friday, August 28, 2009

Fort Conde Village pictures and historical

Historic Fort Conde
150 South Royal Street

Historical Information about Fort Conde Village

Originally founded in 1702 at 27-Mile Bluff up river, Mobile was relocated in 1711 to the current site where a temporary wooden stockade fort was constructed to protect the town. It was named Fort Louis after the old fort up river. In 1723, construction of a new brick fort with a stone foundation began. Renamed Fort Condé in honor of King Louis XIV’s brother.

Fort Condé protected Mobile and its citizens for nearly 100 years from 1723-1820. It was built by the French as a defense against British and Spanish attack on the strategic location of Mobile and its Bay, the eastern most part of the Louisiana colony. The military importance of Mobile and Fort Condé was huge. The fort and town protected access into the strategic lands between the Mississippi River and the Atlantic colonies along the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers.

Fort Condé and its surrounding features covered about 11 acres of land. It was built of local brick, stone, earthen dirt walls, and cedar wood. Twenty black slaves and five white workmen did initial work on the fort. If the full size fort were present today, it would take up large sections of Church, Royal, Government, St. Emanuel, and Theatre Streets in downtown Mobile.

From 1763 to 1780, England was in possession of Mobile and the fort was renamed Fort Charlotte in honor of King George III’s wife. From 1780 to1813, Spain ruled Mobile and the fort was renamed Fort Carlota. In 1813, Mobile was occupied by United States troops and the fort again named Fort Charlotte.

In 1820, Congress authorized the sale and removal of the fort since it was no longer needed for defense. City funds paid for the demolition to make way for new streets and construction built towards the river and southward. By late 1823, most above ground traces of Mobile’s fort were gone.

The current Fort Condé, about 1/3 of the original fort recreated in 4/5-scale, opened on July 4, 1976 as part of Mobile’s United States bicentennial celebration.

Admission is free.
For more information call 251-208-7569.

text article by: http://www.museumofmobile.com/other_locs.php

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Pictures taken by
Necia Sullivan Click here to view entire album (50+ photos)

Note from photographer: These are pictures that I have taken of Fort Conde Village...I love this area!!! Most of my pictures are of the houses before renovation, there are a few during renovation and a few of houses that were renovated years ago. By:Necia Sullivan Seelhorst










































Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Oakleigh Historic Museum


The Oakleigh Historic Museum


Hours of Operation


Thursday: 10:00AM-4:00PM

Friday: 10:00AM-4:00PM

Saturday: 10:00AM-4:00PM

Sunday: 1:00PM-4:00PM

Closed: Monday-Wednesday

Tours on the hour.
Last tour one hour before closing.

General Admission:

$7 for adults

$3 for children and students

$5 per person for groups

of 10 or more

Discounts for Seniors, AAA, Veterans & Active Military


*Closed most holidays including:

New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Summer Sale
For a limited time take 50% off all items in the Oakleigh Gift Shop

Directions: Use MapQuest
Oakleigh is located five minutes east of the intersection of Government and Catherine Street. Traveling east on Government go eight blocks, turn right onto Ann Street, take the first left onto Selma Street. Buses and large passenger vehicles should go four blocks on Selma Street and turn left onto Roper Street. Others should go five blocks on Selma Street and turn left onto Oakleigh Place.

HMPS Activities
For information call (251) 432-6161 or (251) 432-1281 or Email hmps@bellsouth.net


September 17, 2009 - New Date
Bravery & Beauty - Mint Julep Party

Click here for more details.

October 22-24, 2009

Haunted Oakleigh,

6-9 p.m.

A cast of "ghostly" characters will bring regional legends to life during this guided tour of the Oakleigh Historic Complex. A family friendly atmosphere offers a Kiddies' Area with fun and no fright for children under 8 whose parents take the tour. Admission: HMPS members, FREE; general admission, $10 per adult; $5 per student and per person in groups of 10 or more. For reservations call 432-1281.


Historic Mobile Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. It receives principal funding through memberships and fundraising. HMPS received funding for operations and/or special programs for the 2008 fiscal year from the following entities:

The City of Mobile

The J.L. Bedsole Foundation

The Hearin-Chandler Foundation

The A.S. Mitchell Foundation

The Community Foundation of South Alabama: "Friends of Oakleigh" fund



http://www.historicmobile.org/