Mobile, Alabama City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's Mobile, Alabama Travel Guide has been your connection to Mobile's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
Mobile History
As early as the 1500’s, Spanish explorers sailed into the Mobile Bay to find the area inhabited by the Native Americans of Muskhogean stock. The town was known as Mauvila, also spelled Maubila, from which the present day name Mobile is derived. It wasn’t until 1702 that Mobile would be founded as the capital of French Louisiana. In 1763 the colony was taken over by Britain. During the time of the American Revolutionary War, Spain captured Mobile from Britain; so it wasn’t until 1813 that Mobile became part of the United States. Mobile was designated a port city, leading to economic expansion and making the city a vital player in the Civil War. Economic development continued into the 20th century, with shipbuilding and steel production becoming the leading industries. The city would experience another period of growth during World War II due to a boom in the shipyards and the establishment of Brookley Air Force Base. Shipbuilding is still a dominant industry in Mobile, and with the expansion of the Alabama State Docks, the Port of Mobile became the 10th largest port in the United States. There are many historic buildings and examples of antebellum architecture for the bed and breakfast tourist to explore in Mobile.
