Mobile History Museum

The Mobile History Museum is filled with historical displays and interesting information on the history of Mobile and the surrounding areas. It is a great family-friendly thing to do with something for everyone to enjoy

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Exploring the Mobile History Museum: What to Expect

The Mobile History Museum has an entire building of historical displays and information, along with a few other buildings and places to visit, including Colonial Fort Conde, Africatown Heritage House, and the Phoenix Fire Museum.

First Floor Highlights: The Aaron and Sarah Friedman Miniature Gallery

There are two floors of displays within the History Museum of Mobile. One of the first exhibits you can visit is the Aaron and Sarah Friedman Miniature Gallery!

Please don't skip this exhibit, it is honestly amazing. I wasn't sure what to expect of the Miniature Houses and I found myself standing there in awe.

I would like to move into Tabitha's house, pictured above. Each of the houses is an exacting one-inch-to-one-foot scale and took a year or more to build. Mr. Friedman built them for his granddaughters and his wife.

It is amazing to see the love and detail that was put into each of the houses. They are fully furnished and look like you could move right in. The lights and chandeliers even light up, along with windows that can be opened and closed.

There are a couple of other exhibit rooms along the first floor including a current exhibit with carriages and information on Mobile's history.

Second Floor Exhibits: Mobile's Complete Timeline

Mobile's Mardi Gras History: The Birthplace of American Carnival

The Mobile History Museum has a fantastic exhibit on Mardi Gras that not only celebrates Mobile being the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States but also explains the details and moments that make Mardi Gras amazing.

This is an area I could have easily spent time reading every single display and learning more about Mobile's Mardi Gras history.

Make sure you plan extra time for exploring the History Museum of Mobile. The displays draw you in and educate you on key pieces of Mobile's history without being over the top or too much.

The 2nd floor exhibits take you through the history of Mobile over time. The good, the bad, and the growth that Mobile has seen over the past couple of hundred years.

Understanding Mobile's Role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade

The History Museum of Mobile does not ignore or try to sweep away the hard parts of history. The exhibits are open and honest about what happened during the Transatlantic Slave Trade and how Mobile was part of this history.

While the exhibits are not easy to read or absorb, they are incredibly important for each of us to read and understand.

The History Museum of Mobile has an entire area on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, along with the Clotilda exhibit at the Africatown Heritage House. Mobile is home to the final slave ship that arrived in the United States.

Kid-Friendly Exhibits: The Children's Discovery Room

The new children's discovery room explores Native American life in the Mobile area, along with trade routes in a way that kids can understand.

Kids can explore a French ship, play with real African drums, and try on colonial clothing.

Shipbuilding Heritage: Mobile's Maritime Industry

Ship building is a vital part of Mobile's history, and there is an entire area on the 2nd floor that dives into the impacts of ship building.

I found the Bankhead Tunnel exhibit fascinating. Although I'm not a fan of driving through it, I enjoyed learning about the history and what life was like in Mobile during its construction.

Special Exhibition: Sunken Treasures, Ancient Seas (January 23 - May 10, 2026)

The History Museum of Mobile is bringing the Mediterranean's underwater world to the Gulf Coast with Sunken Treasures, Ancient Seas: Artifacts from the Deep, opening January 23. This fascinating exhibition, sponsored by The J. L. Bedsole Foundation, WKRG TV-5, and The Dog Hill Foundation, takes visitors on a journey beneath the waves to explore shipwrecks and ancient civilizations.

Developed in collaboration with Italy's Soprintendenza del Mare of Palermo, the exhibition utilizes modern video technology to showcase submerged archaeological sites around Sicily and the Italian coastline, part of a region where over 1,255 underwater coastal sites have been documented.

You'll see authentic artifacts recovered from the deep alongside the modern equipment and techniques used to find, excavate, and restore these treasures. The museum has also planned special programming including maritime archaeology lectures and children's activities to complement the exhibition. Sunken Treasures, Ancient Seas runs through May 10, 2026.

Clotilda Exhibition at Africatown Heritage House: America's Last Slave Ship

The History Museum of Mobile operates Africatown Heritage House and the Clotilda exhibition.

The Clotilda Exhibition covers the story of the Clotilda ship. The story focuses on the 110 men, women, and childred that were on the Clotilda from West Africa, to enslavement, to their settlement of Africatown.

The Clotilda was the last slave ship to the United States. The exibit focuses on the story of the people aboard the ship.

The exibit is schedule to run from July 2023 to May 31, 2028.

Colonial Fort Conde: Step Into Mobile's French Colonial Past

The entrance admission fee to the Mobile History Museum includes visiting Colonial Fort Conde. Just make sure you keep the clip they give you at the museum front desk.

The historic replica fort features archaeological artifacts from Mobile's colonial past.

The replica fort is one-third the size of the original Fort Conde that was built in 1723 by French explorers.

Visitors can walk on top of the fort walls to see views of Mobile's skyline. Throughout the year, they have living history events, including musketry demonstrations in the courtyard on Saturdays.

Phoenix Fire Museum: Vintage Firefighting History

The Phoenix Fire Museum includes turn-of-the-century horse-drawn steam engines and antique ladder trucks and early motorized engines. Visitors can see vintage uniforms and badges, while learning about Mobile's volunteer firefighting companies.

The museum is housed in the restored Phoenix Volunteer Fire Company No. 6 Fire House.

The Mobile Area Multi Attraction Pass includes the National Maritime Museum along with Bellingrath Gardens, Bragg-Mitchell Museum, Dauphin Island Aquarium, Conde Charlotte Museum, Historic Blakely State Park, Historic Oakleigh House, the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, and more!

Why Visit the Mobile History Museum?

• Great family friendly museum
• Unique Mobile history displays and information
• Six-time recipient of Best Museum in Mobile

Mobile History Museum Visitor Information: Hours, Parking & Tips

Address - 111 South Royal Street, Mobile, Alabama 36602

Phone - 251-208-7569

Hours - Mon - Sat 9:00 - 5:00 | Sun 1:00 - 5:00

Closed on New Year's Day, Mardi Gras Weekend, Lundi Gras Day, Mardi Gras Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

Accessibility - The History Museum of Mobile has two elevators, benches and seating throughout the galleries, and a limited number of wheelchairs available on a first come first served basis.

Plus Size Seating - There are benches at Colonial Fort Conde.

Dress Code/Suggestions - Casual

Pets - pets are not allowed inside the museum

Parking  - There is street parking right in front of the museum

Things to Do Near the Mobile History Museum

What's New in Mobile, AL - Check out all of the new restaurants, exhibits, and things to do in Mobile!

Bragg-Mitchell Mansion - A historic home that offers tours along with being a gorgeous wedding venue.

Nova Espresso -  Great Mobile Coffee shop located near downtown Mobile, Alabama. The coffee shop has a relaxed vibe and great drinks.

Callaghan's Irish Social Club - Fun neighborhood restaurant with an epic burger.  

Exploreum - Hands on science center great for the entire family

Bellingrath Gardens - Gorgeous gardens south of Mobile that have an amazing walking tour.

Mobile Tours

3 Day Mobile City Attraction Pass - Visit some of the top attractions in Mobile with this great attraction pass. Find out more here

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park - pre-purchase your entrance tickets to the USS Alabama here

Downtown Mobile Food Tour- Join an amazing food tour of Mobile's LoDa neighborhood with stops at some truly fantastic local restaurants. Book your tour here

Mobile Ghost Tour - An expert local guide will take you through the historic district of Mobile learning about the spine-chilling stories of spirits and the cities past. Book your tour here

Mobile Smartphone guided walking tour - Learn more about the historic of Mobile and the iconic attractions of downtown Mobile from this great walking tour app you can do at your own pace. Download the tour here