Military Museums • Ships
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Things to Do in Mobile, AL - Mobile Attractions
Things to Do in Mobile
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Speciality Museums • History Museums
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
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- Fred and Susan MHollywood, FL163 contributionsBattleship Memorial Park honors veterans of all modern wars. The extensive grounds contain tanks, boats, aircraft, artillery and memorials (for Korea, Vietnam, 9/11, even service dogs) from all military branches including Coast Guard. Along with the memorials and a collection of military equipment, the Park features the submarine USS Drum and the USS Alabama Battleship for touring.
We began inside the Aircraft Pavilion dedicated to Alabama’s Medal of Honor recipients. Historic vehicles, aircraft and war artifacts were on display with excellent legends. Much was from WW2. A unique 3-axle truck (10 wheels) was designed early in the war to transport whatever might be called for and it did . . . water tanks, equipment, even dental care. The Tuskegee Airmen were represented with one of their ‘red tail’ planes and an excellent film narrated by Morgan Freeman.
Submarine models had easy-to-understand, fascinating details about their war roles, successful or otherwise. The German ‘unterseeboot’ (under the sea) or U-boat played an active part in WW1. The Japanese Imperial Navy had the most diverse submarine fleet in the war (long range, short range and dedicated supply subs). They also built the largest subs. Their fleet never matched the success of the US or Germany because their primary use was reconnaissance and supply transport. The U.S. sub fleet, on the other hand, was focused on sinking Japanese shipping.
The first American submarine was built in 1776. By WW1 our subs were strictly defensive, patrolling coasts and protecting allied shipping. That changed in WW2. All American sub designs are named after fish: Gato, Salmon, Balao, Trench, Growler. Subs were the primary offensive vessel of the Pacific theatre. Making up only 2% of the navy, subs sank 30% of the Japanese navy and 65% of their merchant ships. Fifty-two U.S. subs were lost during the war. Several have been turned into museums, including the one here at Battleship Memorial Park.
The USS Drum is the oldest American sub on public display. Commissioned in 1941, she had a crew of 65 enlisted and seven officers. She spent the entire war in the Pacific where she patrolled, planted mines, attacked enemy vessels, provided photo reconnaissance and rescued downed pilots. USS Drum has been at the Park since 1969, now permanently on land.
After boarding, I (in my late 70's) descended the hatch into the forward torpedo room to walk the length from inside. My husband remained above not wanting to deal with the narrow passages and vertical steps. Both of us had plenty of company. The number of dials and controls was dizzying. But I guess when you’re 18 or 19, learning it is a piece of cake as is the agility needed to move about quickly in tight quarters.
My first surprise was an escape hatch. If a Submarine was disabled and on the bottom in depths not more than ~400 feet, a rescue chamber could be lowered from the surface and attached to the outside of the hatch, allowing the crew to escape. Surprise #2 . . . crew members were given all leather ‘depth charge sandals’ in order to cut down on noise during silent running after an enemy attack. Heavy work shoes were noisy and could contain nails.
The periscope room was on a level above and seemed spacious. Sleeping bunks were anywhere there was space, including suspended just above torpedoes. Three bunk beds, one above the other, were hinged to the wall. Crew worked 24/7 so beds were often shared over the day. A third level was below but not accessible to tourists. Walking from section to section meant climbing through smalI doorways that could be closed and sealed in an emergency. I passed by officers’ quarters, kitchen, mess room and toilets until reaching the aft torpedo room where I climbed up to the deck. And I only banged my head and my knees once!
Both the sub and battleship are designated National Historic Landmarks. Commissioned in 1942, USS Alabama operated along the U.S. east coast in ‘42 and ’43, then in the North Atlantic to guard against the raids by German heavy ships. She was transferred to the Pacific theatre in 1943 and decommissioned in 1947. By the time we boarded Alabama, we were too tired to enjoy one of the three self-guided tours offered on board. We wandered very briefly and called it a day.Written June 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - MayomommaMinnesota27 contributionsHoused in an old Mobile mansion, this place housed many of the cloaks, crowns, dresses and robes of Mardi Gras kings and queens past. Wonderful if you love to look at the costumes and well worth the price of admission but also worth the time to look at the architecture of the home itself. Good for at least a couple of hours browsing around.Written May 12, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Robert K1 contributionThe stained glass was awesome. The underground burial vault was unique for us. Enjoyed the visit and the neighborhood was quiet .
After the cathedral visit we went to Oakleigh neighborhood and enjoyed a walk through the area. Many homes were built in the late 1800’s and are well kept.
Finished with a lunch at Felix’s Fish Camp. Don’t miss the crab soup. It made the trip special.Written March 25, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Indylady55Indianapolis, IN16 contributions1780 built jail rebuilt into home around the Civil War, then changed many hands until became a museum of early to mid 18th century French and American furnishings. Very good collections and very informative docents. Would recommendWritten April 28, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Fred and Susan MHollywood, FL163 contributionsGulfquest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico is dedicated to the history and culture of “America’s Seas.” It claims “its most unmistakable feature is the full-sized container ship that houses most of its exhibits.” Of course, it’s a replica.
The Museum commemorates the development of containerization in the early 20th century with 90 interactive exhibits, simulators and theatres. I skipped the 16-minute introductory film (probably a mistake) and headed right to the top floor to work my way down. I also skipped the area with global displays on atmospheric storms, climate change and ocean science. The place was too large to see it all and with limited time I pretty much rushed through.
Deck 5 began with sound signals that the bridge can make to convey information either to crew or other ships in the area. Controls in the bridge such as radio traffic, depth sensors and communication features were also explained. The “house flag” is the distinguishing flag of a shipping company. The Gulf of Mexico is home to seven of the 10 largest seaports in the U.S.
Long ramps connected the decks. Deck 3 was my next stop. Here were stories about Gulf shipwrecks, an historical timeline, weather signals, cargo handling, tools of the trade (e.g., ship’s bell, grindstones, chain, hooks, draught markers, axes, spikes, etc.) and much more, not just today but through 150+ years. A boatswain (pronounced bo-sun) kept the ship in good repair (maintenance of wood, sails, ropes, flags, anchors and lifeboats). A cooper was in charge of barrels and casks (for food, water and supplies). Gunners cleaned and maintained cannons, gunpowder and ammunition.
A special exhibit called “Spirits of the Passage” was excellent. Items and details from the wreck of an actual slave ship were on display. African leaders traded their enemies and captives for European goods, arms and luxuries. As many as 10% of captives revolted before leaving the continent. On board, iron shackles fastened slaves together, even children. Slavers typically carried 200 to 500 captives. Sketches showed the packed configuration of the slave ship hold. Slave cargo came from different African homelands. They were fed twice a day but dehydration, fevers and dysentery were common, as was water contamination. Accounts that exist suggest somewhere between 13% and 33% died during the voyage, to say nothing of crew who often succumbed to the same illnesses. From 1501 to 1867 an estimated 12.5 million people were shipped out as slaves mostly to North and South America. England and the U.S. banned their transport in 1807 and 1808 respectively but could not stop such a lucrative business. The illegal transport continued until the mid-1800’s.
Containerization transformed international shipping and advanced the global economy by minimizing cargo handling and shipping costs. In 1955 a trucking entrepreneur tested his idea of shipping cargo in large containers that could be moved fully loaded from land to sea and back again. In 1956 the first container ship made its maiden voyage from NY to Houston with 58 containers. Only two cranes were needed to empty the ship in just eight hours which was super-fast for the time. It reduced the cost of loading and discharging cargo from $5.83 per ton to only 15.8¢ per ton.
Dozens of sayings were posted along the Museum ramps that had originated at sea. They explained, for example, the origin of terms like:
• to ‘deep six’ something
• ‘first rate’
• ‘mind your p’s and q’s.’
• Port Out Starboard Home = 'POSH'
• ‘scuttlebutt’
• 'slush fund.’
This is the type of museum you want to return to, as there is so much to see and learn. It's great for kids too.Written June 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Footprints81994810 contributionsI really enjoyed my visit to the Richards DAR Mansion in Mobile. I was made very welcome and the tour was interesting and very informative. It was a treat to be invited to have tea and biscuits with the ladies following my visit. Excellent.Written March 7, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- NemoTravelerAarhus, Denmark576 contributionsThe History Museum is located downtown Mobile next to the Mardi Gras Park. When we visited a special exhibition “22 Objects” was on show, giving interesting facts about the development of the city through more than three hundred years.
In particular we enjoyed some beautiful Mardi Gras objects.
It is a rather large museum with much to see, so expect to spend some time here. The nearby Colonial Fort Condé is part of the Museum and definitely also worth a visit.Written May 28, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Rick JVictoria, TX113 contributionsA lot of history here and we’ll worth the time. The guide did an excellent job describing everything. We arrived not on the hour when the next tour was going to start. But since no tour was in progress at the time, they went ahead and started a tour just for us. Very thoughtful.Written February 4, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- AlhHernando, FL2 contributionsEnjoyed touring Mobile with its historic buildings and interesting shops along Dauphin Street -- especially during Mardi Gras and the endless parades.Written February 23, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- DenverJim48Englewood, CO261 contributionsWhat a splendid treasure. Our docent, Irene, was absolutely marvelous and made us feel welcome. The mansion is striking, and we learned a lot. We were amazed at the 250 year old oak trees, all gnarly and covered by ferns that enveloped the mansion yard.Written November 12, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ed CArlington, VA769 contributionsWe were visiting Mobile for the first time while attending a convention. Before going we had looked at things to do in Mobile and noted the high reviews the Crescent Theater had. On the first day we were there, during some free time, we went walking around the downtown area. We encountered the Crescent Theater and noticed it was showing a movie we wanted to see. Not having the time to see it then, we returned to our hotel.
Later in the week we had an afternoon free and made a beeline to the theater. While we were expecting a quaint theater, we had not expected the delightful owner who sold us the tickets and then chatted with us for quite a while. He alone was worth the price of admission. Needless to say we also enjoyed the show
I expect to be back in Mobile in June 2023 and will definitely go see whatever is showing. I only regret that there is not an equivalent place near my homeWritten May 4, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - KanchapoguHyderabad District, India1 contributionGood to see this And I recommend this and you have a some personal opinion I am giving 4Stars for thisWritten November 21, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MeBlondeChicago, IL109 contributionsThis ranks as one of the better Art Museums I have been at and I have been at a lot. The parking lot was very large, the park setting was nice for a change not battling the city to get there. Very reasonable in price, 12 adult 10 senior. You are greeted in the lobby and pay in the gift shop. Very clean museum with benches to sit and look at the painting. All types are represented. Don't miss the Children's section, great even without kids. All the elements of design, color, shape, scale, line and texture are shown. Loved the big yellow duck. The gift shop had art, jewelry, and something unusual for gifts.Written April 17, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sue Fairchild47 contributionsThere is a lot of cool historical things on display here, but it's pretty basic. Kids and history lovers will like it for sure. Since it's a recreation (not their fault, obviously) it would have been cooler had it been the actual location, etc. But still a cool place. Check out the Mardi Gras park right next to it and inexpensive parking lot too.Written September 21, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Mark TOrlando, FL449 contributionsThis science center is part of the the astc passport program and had loads of interactive exhibits for kids to explore. It was a great way to spend a wet morning as we passed through mobileWritten May 17, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mobile
- The best outdoor activities in Mobile according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Mobile Bay
- Mobile Botanical Gardens
- Bienville Square
- Medal of Honor Park
- Environmental Studies Center
- The most popular things to do in Mobile with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park
- GulfQuest - National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
- Mobile Carnival Museum
- History Museum of Mobile
See what travelers are asking
Forum posts were selected by looking for forum titles asking specific questions and taking the top showtopic page by total pageviews as the optimal topic.
Staying in Gulf Shores in late February, thinking of one day trip to Mobile to see the USS Alabama. What else should we do? I've read that Dauphin St is interesting. Is Bellingrath Gardens interesting? Would anything be in bloom at that time?
Answer: Yes, Fairhope is pretty! If it is saturday at end of Feb, that is a mardi gras parade night, so the downtown parking & crowds may be affected.
If you decide to visit Bellingrath, check the Fort Morgan ferry schedule. It will take you over to dauphin Island where the estuarium and sea lab are. very interesting. but then you can drive your car off DI up to bellingrath, and it is closer time wise than going through mobile.
if you are interested in downtown mobile, they have a food tour on dauphin street that i have never personally done, but have heard is outstanding and fun.
https://www.disl.edu/
https://bienvillebitesfoodtour.com/
https://mobilebayferry.com/schedule/
Have fun,
KM
If you decide to visit Bellingrath, check the Fort Morgan ferry schedule. It will take you over to dauphin Island where the estuarium and sea lab are. very interesting. but then you can drive your car off DI up to bellingrath, and it is closer time wise than going through mobile.
if you are interested in downtown mobile, they have a food tour on dauphin street that i have never personally done, but have heard is outstanding and fun.
https://www.disl.edu/
https://bienvillebitesfoodtour.com/
https://mobilebayferry.com/schedule/
Have fun,
KM
Note that forum content are individual perspectives of forum posters and not the opinion of Tripadvisor
Mobile Attractions Information
| Attractions | 151 |
|---|---|
| Attraction Reviews | 9,138 |
| Attraction Photos | 7,041 |
| Local Time | Thursday 5:39 PM |