Mobile, Alabama was the capital of the French Louisiana territory from 1704 through 1722, during which time Mardi Gras was organized. It was an area known for its battles with Native Americans before that. The battle of Maubilla was fought near here, but there have been no relics found indicating where. During the Civil War, it was a major shipping port and one the Union had its eye on throughout the war. The first submarine to sink an enemy ship was constructed in Mobile. It was the Confederate submarine, the Hunley.

Since 1970 there has been archeological activity, researching the history of Moblie. Over the years, there have been 47 buildings and tens of thousands of artifacts uncovered, making it the most important historical site in the South.

Mobile is surrounded by interesting things and places. Its downtown area has a replica of Fort Conde, named after the brother of King Louis of France. It's on the same location that the original fort stood as could best be determined. To the south of Mobile are many picturesque small towns on the coast. Dauphin island is located south of Mobile, it is here that Fort Gaines is located. Directly across the bay from Fort Gaines is Fort Morgan, beyond that is a beautiful town called Gulf Shores.

In 1860, the ship, Clotilde, carrying a cargo of slaves entering this country, was abandoned by its captain near Mobile. Many of the slaves escaped and formed their own community on the banks of the Mobile River, called Africatown. Here, the slaves still spoke their native language and engaged in their cultural traditions up until the mid twentieth century! This was the last known shipload of slaves entering the US.

On May 25, 1865, an ammunition depot on Beauregard Street, containing 200 tons of artillery shells and gunpowder, exploded, killing 300 people. Two ships in the Mobile River were sunk by the explosion and the entire northern side of Mobile was destroyed by fire.

On May 21, 1919, at about 3:25 pm, a fire started in the grocery store and meat market of Howard Cunningham, located at the corner of Madison and Hamilton Streets in Mobile. The fire quickly spread and burned the remainder of the day. It destroyed over 200 homes, leaving between 1,000 and 1,500 homeless and covered 40 city blocks of Mobile.