Editing Mobile, Alabama (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Azalea Trail Maids.jpg|thumb|The [[Azalea Trail Maids]] on the campus of [[Spring Hill College]]]]

Mobile's French and Spanish colonial history has given it a culture distinguished by French, Spanish, [[Alabama Creole people|Creole]], African and Catholic heritage, in addition to later British and American influences. It is distinguished from all other cities in the state of Alabama. The annual [[Carnival]] celebration is perhaps the best example of its differences. Mobile is the birthplace of the celebration of [[Mardi Gras]] in the United States and has the oldest celebration, dating to the early 18th century during the French colonial period.<ref name=LOCgras>"Mardi Gras in Mobile" (history), Jeff Sessions, Senator, Library of Congress, 2006, webpage: [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/legacies/AL/200002665.html LibCongress-2665]</ref>

Carnival in Mobile evolved over the course of 300 years from a beginning as a sedate French Catholic tradition into the mainstream multi-week celebration that today bridges a spectrum of cultures.<ref name="carnival4">{{cite web |title=History of Mardi Gras |work=Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau |url=http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_history.php |access-date=November 29, 2007}}</ref> Mobile's official cultural ambassadors are the [[Azalea Trail Maids]], meant to embody the ideals of [[Southern hospitality]].<ref name="azaleatrail">{{cite news |last=Starling |first=Bill |title=Trail Maids are proud ambassadors for Mobile, state |newspaper=Mobile Press Register |pages=2C |date=January 16, 2009 |url=http://www.al.com/opinion/press-register/editorials.ssf?/base/opinion/1232117116172200.xml&coll=3 |access-date=March 20, 2010 |archive-date=February 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201000723/http://www.al.com/opinion/press-register/editorials.ssf?/base/opinion/1232117116172200.xml&coll=3 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' (1977) and ''[[Back Roads (1981 film)|Back Roads]]'' (1981) were shot in Mobile.<ref>Barth, Jack (1991). ''Roadside Hollywood: The Movie Lover's State-By-State Guide to Film Locations, Celebrity Hangouts, Celluloid Tourist Attractions, and More''. Contemporary Books. Page 150. {{ISBN|9780809243266}}.</ref>

===Carnival and Mardi Gras===
{{See also|Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama|Mystic society}}
[[File:Mobile Order of Incas parade 03.jpg|thumb|upright|Order of Inca night parade in 2009]]

The Carnival season has expanded throughout the late fall and winter: [[Ball (dance)|balls]] in the city may be scheduled as early as November, with the [[parade]]s beginning after January 5 and the Twelfth Day of Christmas or Epiphany on January 6.<ref name="mgrasfaqs">{{cite web |title=Mardi Gras FAQS |work=Mobile Carnival Museum |url=http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/MardiGras.aspx |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911025505/http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/MardiGras.aspx |archive-date=September 11, 2007}}</ref><ref name="carnivalterminology">{{cite web|title=Mardi Gras Terminology |work=Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau |url=http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_terms.php |access-date=November 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209165238/http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_terms.php |archive-date=December 9, 2007}}</ref> Carnival celebrations end at midnight on [[Mardi Gras]], a moveable feast related to the timing of Lent and Easter. The next day is [[Ash Wednesday]] and the beginning of [[Lent]], the 40-day penitential season before Easter.<ref name="slacabamorinico">{{cite web |title=Mardi Gras – Mobile's Paradoxical Party |work=The Wisdom of Chief Slacabamorinico |url=http://jacksonsnyder.com/arc/slac/MardiGras/paradox.htm |access-date=November 18, 2007 |archive-date=December 9, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209063304/http://jacksonsnyder.com/arc/slac/MardiGras/paradox.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In Mobile, locals often use the term Mardi Gras as a shorthand to refer to the entire Carnival season. During the Carnival season; the [[Mystic society|mystic societies]] build colorful floats and parade throughout downtown. Masked society members toss small gifts, known as 'throws,' to parade spectators.<ref>{{cite news |first=Susan |last=Houston |title=Mobile; It Has History |work=The News & Observer |date=February 4, 2007}}</ref> The mystic societies, which in essence are exclusive private clubs, also hold formal [[masquerade ball]]s, usually by invitation only, and oriented to adults.<ref name="carnivalterminology"/>

Carnival was first celebrated in Mobile in 1703 when colonial French Catholic settlers carried out their traditional celebration at the [[Old Mobile Site]], prior to the 1711 relocation of the city to the current site.<ref name="MMtime"/> Mobile's first Carnival society was established in 1711 with the ''Boeuf Gras Society'' (Fatted Ox Society).<ref name="CarnHist1">{{cite web |title=History |work=Mobile Carnival Museum |url=http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/History.aspx |access-date=November 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010041322/http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/History.aspx |archive-date=October 10, 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Mobile Mardi Gras 2010 48.jpg|thumb|Knights of Revelry parade on Royal Street in 2010]]
In 1830 Mobile's Cowbellion de Rakin Society was the first formally organized and masked mystic society in the United States to celebrate with a parade.<ref name="MMtime"/><ref name="slacabamorinico"/> The Cowbellions got their start when Michael Krafft, a cotton factor from [[Pennsylvania]], began a parade with rakes, hoes, and cowbells.<ref name="slacabamorinico"/> The ''Cowbellians'' introduced horse-drawn floats to the parades in 1840 with a parade entitled "Heathen Gods and Goddesses".<ref name="CarnHist1"/> The [[Striker's Independent Society]], formed in 1843, is the oldest surviving mystic society in the United States.<ref name="CarnHist1"/>

Carnival celebrations in Mobile were canceled during the [[American Civil War]]. In 1866 [[Joe Cain]] revived the Mardi Gras parades when he paraded through the city streets on Fat Tuesday while costumed as a fictional [[Chickasaw]] chief named ''Slacabamorinico.'' He celebrated the day in front of the occupying [[Union Army]] troops.<ref name="JChist">{{Cite web|url=http://cainsmerrywidows.org/articles.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929135247/http://cainsmerrywidows.org/articles.html|url-status=dead|title=Joe Danborn & Cammie East, "Joe Cain Articles", ''Mobile Register'', 2001|archive-date=September 29, 2007|access-date=March 4, 2022}}</ref> In 2002, Mobile's [[Tricentennial]] celebrated with parades that represented all of the city's mystic societies.<ref name="CarnHist1"/>

Founded in 2004, the Conde Explorers in 2005 were the first integrated Mardi Gras society to parade in downtown Mobile.  The society has about a hundred members and welcomes men and women of all races.  In addition to the parade and ball, the Conde Explorers hold several parties throughout the year. Its members also perform volunteer work. The Conde Explorers were featured in the award-winning documentary, ''The Order of Myths'' (2008), by [[Margaret Brown (film director)|Margaret Brown]] about Mobile's Mardi Gras.<ref name="PBS">{{cite web |title=Independent Lens: The Order of Myths |url=https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/orderofmyths/ |date=January 26, 2009 |work=Independent Television Service (ITVS) |access-date=July 29, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://condeexplorers.org/|title=Conde Explorers|website=Condeexplorers.org|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204232700/http://condeexplorers.org/|archive-date=February 4, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Archives and libraries===
[[File:Mobile Public Library 2008.jpg|thumb|The Ben May Main Library on Government Street]]
The [[National African American Archives and Museum]] features the history of African-American participation in Mardi Gras, authentic artifacts from the era of slavery, and portraits and biographies of famous African Americans.<ref name="naaam">{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/folklife/civilrights/survey/view_repository.php?rep_id=1936 |title=National African-American Archives and Museum |work=The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref> The University of South Alabama Archives houses primary source material relating to the history of Mobile and southern Alabama, as well as the university's history. The archives are located on the ground floor of the USA Spring Hill Campus and are open to the general public.<ref name="usa1">{{cite web |title=USA Archives |work=University of South Alabama |url=http://www.usouthal.edu/archives/ |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-date=September 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911025000/http://www.usouthal.edu/archives/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Mobile Municipal Archives contains the extant records of the City of Mobile, dating from the city's creation as a municipality by the Mississippi Territory in 1814. The majority of the original records of Mobile's colonial history, spanning the years 1702 through 1813, are housed in Paris, London, [[Seville]], and [[Madrid]].<ref name="cmma1">{{cite web |title=Mobile Municipal Archives |work=City of Mobile |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/archives/ |access-date=October 24, 2007}}</ref> The Mobile Genealogical Society Library and Media Center is located at the Holy Family Catholic Church and School complex. It features handwritten manuscripts and published materials that are available for use in genealogical research.<ref name="MGS library">{{cite web |title=MGS library |work=The Mobile Genealogical Society |url=http://www.siteone.com/clubs/mgs/promo.htm |access-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807072712/http://www.siteone.com/clubs/mgs/promo.htm |archive-date=August 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The [[Mobile Public Library]] system serves Mobile and consists of eight branches across Mobile County; its large local history and genealogy division is housed in a facility next to the newly restored and enlarged [[Ben E. May|Ben May]] Main Library on Government Street.<ref name="mpl1">{{cite web |title=Local History and Genealogy |work=Mobile Public Library |url=http://www.mplonline.org/lhg.htm |access-date=October 20, 2007}}</ref> The Saint Ignatius Archives, Museum and Theological Research Library contains primary sources, artifacts, documents, photographs and publications that pertain to the history of Saint Ignatius Church and School, the Catholic history of the city, and the history of the Roman Catholic Church.<ref name="siamt1">{{cite web |title=St. Ignatius Archives and Museum |work=PastPerfect Museum Software Newsletter January 2004 |url=http://www.museumsoftware.com/newsletter01_04.htm |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411171531/http://www.museumsoftware.com/newsletter01_04.htm |archive-date=April 11, 2008}}</ref>

===Arts and entertainment===
[[File:Mobile Museum of Art by Highsmith.jpg|thumb|The Mobile Museum of Art in 2010]]
The [[Mobile Museum of Art]] features permanent exhibits that span several centuries of art and culture. The museum was expanded in 2002 to approximately {{convert|95000|sqft|m2|0}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobilemuseumofart.com/ |title=Welcome to the Mobile Museum of Art |work=Mobile Museum of Art |access-date=November 26, 2012}}</ref> The permanent exhibits include the African and Asian Collection Gallery, Altmayer Gallery (American art), Katharine C. Cochrane Gallery of American Fine Art, Maisel European Gallery, Riddick Glass Gallery, Smith Crafts Gallery, and the Ann B. Hearin Gallery (contemporary works).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobilemuseumofart.com/index.php?sector=3&view=1 |title=Permanent Collection |work=Mobile Museum of Art |access-date=November 26, 2012}}</ref>

The Centre for the Living Arts is an organization that operates the historic [[Saenger Theatre (Mobile, Alabama)|Saenger Theatre]] and Space 301, a contemporary art gallery. The Saenger Theatre opened in 1927 as a [[movie palace]]. Today it is a performing arts center and serves as a small concert venue for the city. It is home to the [[Mobile Symphony Orchestra]], conducted by Maestro Scott Speck.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilesaenger.com/history.php |title=Mobile Saenger Theater History |access-date=May 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070504203303/http://www.mobilesaenger.com/history.php |archive-date=May 4, 2007}}</ref> Space 301 Gallery and Studio was initially housed adjacent to the Saenger, but moved to its own space in 2008. The {{convert|93000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} building, donated to the centre by the ''[[Press-Register]]'' after its relocation to a new modern facility, underwent a $5.2 million renovation and redesign prior to opening.<ref>{{cite news |title=Space 301: Cultural makeover |first=Matt |last=Cuthbert |url=https://www.al.com/artbeat/2008/07/space_301_cultural_makeover.html |newspaper=Press-Register |date=July 6, 2008 |access-date=December 5, 2021}}</ref> The [[Crescent Theater]] in downtown Mobile has been showing [[arthouse film]]s since 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/04/crescent_theater_downtown_mobi.html|first=Michelle|last=Matthews|title=Crescent Theater in downtown Mobile set to close|date=April 6, 2017|access-date=July 27, 2017|work=[[Press-Register]]|publisher=AL.com}}</ref>

[[File:MobileDomeJuly07.jpg|thumb|The Mobile Civic Center in 2007]]
The [[Mobile Civic Center]] contains three facilities under one roof. The {{convert|400000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} building has an arena, a theater and an exposition hall. It is the primary concert venue for the city and hosts a wide variety of events. It is home to the [[Mobile Opera]] and the Mobile Ballet.<ref name="srg"/> The 60-year-old Mobile Opera averages about 1,200 attendees per performance.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Setting the Stage: Mobile Opera offers a three-show season for 2007–08'' |work=Press Register |url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/press-register/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1179048222106610.xml&coll=3&thispage=1 |access-date=May 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014359/http://www.al.com/entertainment/press-register/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fentertainment%2F1179048222106610.xml&coll=3&thispage=1 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> A wide variety of events are held at Mobile's Arthur C. Outlaw Convention Center. It contains a {{convert|100000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} exhibit hall, a {{convert|15000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} grand ballroom, and sixteen meeting rooms.<ref name="acocc1">{{cite web |title=Arthur C. Outlaw Convention Center |website=Mobile.org |url=http://www.mobile.org/pdf/meet_convctr.pdf |access-date=October 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025170635/http://www.mobile.org/pdf/meet_convctr.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The city has hosts the [[Greater Gulf State Fair]], held each October since 1955.<ref name="al">{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/10/60th_greater_gulf_state_fair_i.html|title=60th Greater Gulf State Fair in Mobile focuses on the family|date=October 29, 2014|work=[[Press-Register]]|publisher=AL.com|author=Angela Lewis|access-date=July 14, 2017}}</ref> The city also hosted [[Bayfest (Mobile)|BayFest]], an annual three-day music festival with more than 125 live musical acts on multiple stages spread throughout downtown;<ref name="bayfest1">{{cite web|title=About BayFest |work=Bayfest, Inc. |url=http://www.bayfest.com/about.php |access-date=January 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224020712/http://www.bayfest.com/about.php |archive-date=December 24, 2007}}</ref> it now holds Ten Sixty Five festival, a free music festival.

The Mobile Theatre Guild is a nonprofit [[community theatre]] that has served the city since 1947. It is a member of the [[Mobile Arts Council]], the Alabama Conference of Theatre and Speech, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, and the American Association of Community Theatres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobiletheatreguild.org/about.html |title=Mobile Theatre Guild |access-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316193344/http://mobiletheatreguild.org/about.html |archive-date=March 16, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Mobile is also host to the Joe Jefferson Players, Alabama's oldest continually running community theatre. The group was named in honor of the famous comedic actor [[Joseph Jefferson|Joe Jefferson]], who spend part of his teenage years in Mobile. The Players debuted their first production on December 17, 1947.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joejeffersonplayers.com/id3.html |title=History |work=Joe Jefferson Players |access-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202222039/http://www.joejeffersonplayers.com/id3.html |archive-date=December 2, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The [[Mobile Arts Council]] is an umbrella organization for the arts in Mobile.
{{Further|topic=the Mobile rock band|The Sunshine Factory}}

===Museums===
[[File:USS Alabama Mobile, Alabama 002.JPG|thumb|right|The {{USS|Alabama|BB-60|6}} at [[Battleship Memorial Park]]]]
[[File:Vincent-Doan House.jpg|thumb|The Vincent-Doan House, home to the Mobile Medical Museum, is one of the oldest extant houses in the city.]]

Mobile is home to a variety of museums. [[Battleship Memorial Park]] is a military park on the shore of Mobile Bay. It features the World War II era [[battleship]] {{USS|Alabama|BB-60|6}}, the World War II era [[submarine]] {{USS|Drum|SS-228|6}}, [[Korean War]] and [[Vietnam War]] Memorials, and a variety of historical military equipment.<ref name="battleship">{{cite web |title=See Courage Up Close |work=USS Alabama Battleship Commission |url=http://www.ussalabama.com/ |access-date=November 18, 2007}}</ref> The [[Old City Hall (Mobile, Alabama)|History Museum of Mobile]] showcases 300 plus years of Mobile history and prehistory. It is housed in the historic [[Old City Hall (Mobile, Alabama)|Old City Hall]] (1857), a National Historic Landmark.<ref name="southernmarket">{{cite web |title=About Us |work=Museum of Mobile |url=http://www.museumofmobile.com/html/about.php |access-date=November 18, 2007}}</ref> The [[Oakleigh Historic Complex (Mobile, Alabama)|Oakleigh Historic Complex]] features three house museums that attempt to interpret the lives of people from three strata of 19th century society in Mobile, that of the enslaved, the working class, and the upper class.<ref name="Oakleigh">{{cite web |title=OakleighMuseum |work=Historic Mobile Preservation Society |url=http://www.historicmobile.org/oakleigh.htm |access-date=September 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807121029/http://www.historicmobile.org/oakleigh.htm |archive-date=August 7, 2007}}</ref>

The [[Mobile Carnival Museum]], housing the city's [[Mardi Gras in Mobile|Mardi Gras]] history and memorabilia, documents the variety of floats, costumes, and displays seen during the history of the festival season.<ref>Andrews, Casandra, ''Master of make-Believe'', Press Register, Mobile, Alabama: January 28, 2007.</ref> The [[Bragg-Mitchell Mansion]] (1855), [[Richards DAR House]] (1860), and the [[Conde-Charlotte House|Condé-Charlotte House]] (1822) are historic, furnished [[antebellum architecture|antebellum]] house museums.<ref name="bmm1">{{cite web |title=Tour |work=Bragg Mitchell Mansion |url=http://www.braggmitchellmansion.com/tour.htm |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216232525/http://www.braggmitchellmansion.com/tour.htm |archive-date=December 16, 2007}}</ref><ref name="rdarhm1">{{cite web |title=Welcome |work=Richards DAR House Museum |url=http://www.richardsdarhouse.com/index.html |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829044823/http://www.richardsdarhouse.com/index.html |archive-date=August 29, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ccmh1">{{cite web |title=Condé |work=Condé-Charlotte Museum House |url=http://www.angelfire.com/al2/condecharlotte/ |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014204814/http://www.angelfire.com/al2/condecharlotte/ |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}</ref> [[Fort Morgan (Alabama)|Fort Morgan]] (1819), [[Fort Gaines (Alabama)|Fort Gaines]] (1821), and [[Blakeley, Alabama|Historic Blakeley State Park]] all figure predominantly in local [[American Civil War]] history.<ref name=nris2>{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>

The Mobile Medical Museum is housed in the historic French colonial-style Vincent-Doan House (1827). It features artifacts and resources that chronicle the long history of medicine in Mobile.<ref name="mmm1">{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Mobile Medical Museum |work=Mobile Medical Museum |url=http://www.mobilemedicalmuseum.com/ |access-date=October 19, 2007}}</ref> The Phoenix Fire Museum is located in the restored Phoenix Volunteer Fire Company Number 6 building and features the history of fire companies in Mobile from their organization in 1838.<ref name="pfm1">{{cite web |title=Phoenix Fire Museum |work=Museum of Mobile |url=http://www.museumofmobile.com/html/other_museums.php |access-date=October 19, 2007}}</ref> The Mobile Police Department Museum features exhibits that chronicle the history of law enforcement in Mobile.<ref name="mpdm1">{{cite web |title=Mobile Police Department Museum |work=Mobile Police Department |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/mobilepd/html/divisions/museum.html |access-date=October 19, 2007}}</ref>

The [[Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center]] is a non-profit science center located in downtown. It features permanent and traveling exhibits, an [[IMAX]] dome theater, a digital 3D virtual theater, and a hands-on chemistry laboratory.<ref name="exploreum">{{cite web |title=About Us |work=Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center |url=http://www.exploreum.net/ |access-date=October 16, 2007 |archive-date=August 6, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030806094443/http://www.exploreum.net/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Dauphin Island Sea Lab]] is located south of the city, on Dauphin Island near the mouth of [[Mobile Bay]]. It houses the Estuarium, an aquarium which illustrates the four habitats of the [[Mobile Bay]] [[ecosystem]]: the [[Mobile River|river delta]], [[Mobile Bay|bay]], [[Dauphin Island|barrier islands]] and [[Gulf of Mexico]].<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |title=You Can Call It the Little Easy |last=Motyka |first=John |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/03/23/travel/escapes/23American.html?ex=1175313600&en=f9db7486620e5d10&ei=5070&emc=eta1 |access-date=May 8, 2007 |date=March 23, 2007}}</ref>

===Historic architecture===
[[File:250 St. Anthony Street Mobile AL 01.JPG|thumb|A house within the [[De Tonti Square Historic District]]]]
[[File:Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Mobile|Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception]], seat of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile|Archdiocese of Mobile]]]]

Mobile has antebellum architectural examples of [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]], [[Gothic Revival]], [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]], and [[Creole cottage]]. Later architectural styles found in the city include the various [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] types, [[Shotgun house|shotgun]] types, [[Colonial Revival architecture|Colonial Revival]], [[Tudor Revival architecture|Tudor Revival]], [[Spanish Colonial Revival architecture|Spanish Colonial Revival]], [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]] and many others. The city currently has nine major [[Historic districts in the United States|historic districts]]: [[Old Dauphin Way Historic District|Old Dauphin Way]], [[Oakleigh Garden Historic District|Oakleigh Garden]], [[Lower Dauphin Street Historic District|Lower Dauphin Street]], [[Leinkauf Historic District|Leinkauf]], [[De Tonti Square Historic District|De Tonti Square]], [[Church Street East Historic District|Church Street East]], [[Ashland Place Historic District (Mobile, Alabama)|Ashland Place]], [[Campground Historic District|Campground]], and [[Midtown Historic District (Mobile, Alabama)|Midtown]].<ref name="nris2"/>

Mobile has a number of historic structures in the city, including numerous churches and private homes. Mobile's historic churches include [[Christ Church Cathedral (Mobile, Alabama)|Christ Church Cathedral]], the [[Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Mobile|Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception]], [[Emanuel AME Church (Mobile, Alabama)|Emanuel AME Church]], [[Government Street Presbyterian Church]], [[St. Louis Street Missionary Baptist Church]], [[State Street AME Zion Church]], [[Stone Street Baptist Church]], [[Trinity Episcopal Church (Mobile, Alabama)|Trinity Episcopal Church]], [[St. Francis Street Methodist Church]], [[Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (Mobile, Alabama)|Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church]], [[Saint Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church (Mobile, Alabama)|Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church]], [[Saint Matthew's Catholic Church (Mobile, Alabama)|Saint Matthew's Catholic Church]], [[Saint Paul's Episcopal Chapel (Mobile, Alabama)|Saint Paul's Episcopal Chapel]], and [[Saint Vincent de Paul (Mobile, Alabama)|Saint Vincent de Paul]]. The [[Sodality Chapel]] and [[Spring Hill College Quadrangle|St. Joseph's Chapel]] at Spring Hill College are two historic churches on that campus. Two historic Roman Catholic convents survive, the [[Convent and Academy of the Visitation]] and the [[Convent of Mercy (Mobile, Alabama)|Convent of Mercy]].<ref name="nris2"/>

[[Barton Academy]] is a historic Greek Revival school building and local landmark on Government Street. The [[Bishop Portier House]] and the [[Carlen House]] are two of the many surviving examples of [[Creole cottage]]s in the city. The [[Mobile City Hospital]] and the [[United States Marine Hospital (Mobile, Alabama)|United States Marine Hospital]] are both restored [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]] hospital buildings that predate the Civil War. The [[Washington Firehouse No. 5]] is a Greek Revival fire station, built in 1851. The [[Hunter House (Mobile, Alabama)|Hunter House]] is an example of the [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]] style and was built by a successful 19th-century African American businesswoman. The [[Monterey Place|Shepard House]] is a good example of the [[Queen Anne style architecture in the United States|Queen Anne]] style. The [[Scottish Rite Temple (Mobile, Alabama)|Scottish Rite Temple]] is the only surviving example of [[Egyptian Revival architecture]] in the city. The [[Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Passenger Terminal]] is an example of the [[Mission Revival Style architecture|Mission Revival]] style.<ref name="nris2"/>

[[File:Mobile Marine Hospital 02.JPG|thumb|The old [[United States Marine Hospital (Mobile, Alabama)|United States Marine Hospital]], restored and adapted for reuse by the Mobile County Health Department.]]
The city has several historic cemeteries that were established shortly after the colonial era. They replaced the colonial [[Cemetery|Campo Santo]], of which no trace remains. The [[Church Street Graveyard]] contains above-ground tombs and monuments spread over {{convert|4|acre|0|abbr=on}} and was founded in 1819, during the height of [[yellow fever]] epidemics.<ref name="Sledge">{{Cite journal |last=Sledge |first=John |title=Church Street Graveyard |journal=The Alabama Review |volume=55 |pages=96–105 |date=April 2002}}</ref> The nearby {{convert|120|acre|0|adj=on|abbr=on}} [[Magnolia Cemetery (Mobile, Alabama)|Magnolia Cemetery]] was established in 1836 and served as Mobile's primary burial site during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with approximately 80,000 burials.<ref name="magnoliacem">{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Magnolia Cemetery Website |work=Magnolia Cemetery website |url=http://www.magnoliacemetery.com/ |access-date=November 18, 2007}}</ref> It features tombs and many intricately carved monuments and statues.<ref name="Sledge2">{{cite book |last=Sledge |first=John Sturdivant |title=Cities of Silence: A Guide to Mobile's Historic Cemeteries |pages=24–26 |location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama |publisher=University of Alabama Press |year=2002}}</ref><ref name="magnoliamob">{{cite web |title=The Story of Magnolia Cemetery |work=City of Mobile |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/parks/magnoliacemetery.php |access-date=November 18, 2007}}</ref>

The [[Catholic Cemetery (Mobile, Alabama)|Catholic Cemetery]] was established in 1848 by the [[Archdiocese of Mobile]] and covers more than {{convert|150|acre|0|abbr=on}}. It contains plots for the [[Brothers of the Sacred Heart]], [[Little Sisters of the Poor]], [[Sisters of Charity]], and [[Sisters of Mercy]], in addition to many other historically significant burials.<ref name="sledge3">{{cite book |last=Sledge |first=John Sturdivant |title=Cities of Silence: A Guide to Mobile's Historic Cemeteries |pages=66–79 |location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama |publisher=University of Alabama Press |year=2002}}</ref> Mobile's [[Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim (Mobile, Alabama)|Jewish]] community dates back to the 1820s and the city has two historic [[Jewish cemetery|Jewish cemeteries]], [[Sha'arai Shomayim Cemetery]] and [[Ahavas Chesed Cemetery]]. Sha'arai Shomayim is the older of the two.<ref name="Sledge4">{{cite book |last=Sledge |first=John Sturdivant |title=Cities of Silence: A Guide to Mobile's Historic Cemeteries |pages=80–89 |location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama |publisher=University of Alabama Press |year=2002}}</ref>