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My Adventure to Historic Downtown Mobile‚ AL

My Mother recently moved to Mobile‚ Alabama and I decided to jump on I-65 on a whim and drive the seven hours to see her from Nashville. I was only there two days so our goal was to eat at a local restaurant and do some sightseeing. I did not know this but Mardi Gras started in Mobile‚ Alabama even though it is widely known in New Orleans today. The first celebration was on March third‚ 1699. That is over 300 years ago. It is enlightening to think how people lived back then. As my Mother was telling me that there is a lot of history in Mobile I asked were we could go to sight see and bask in the beautiful buildings. She said downtown Mobile is where they enjoyed parades and celebrated. We got in the car and took off on our adventure.

When I was driving down the streets the charming homes were sprinkled with mossy cascading trees that make an arch over the streets. We landed in Historic downtown and parked. A city that is 300 hundred years old.  I took pictures of the framework and the buildings were beautiful and looked preserved from the older days. As there is a long history in Mobile all the buildings have architectural looks from Victorian‚ Antebellum‚ Spanish‚ British and Colonial eras.  As you can see in the picture above the work they put into the properties is exquisite. The detailing and decorating of the stone is magnificent. 

Saenger Theatre is a famous staple in the Lower Dauphin Street Historic District in Mobile‚ Alabama. It opened it’s doors in 1927 to welcome all the lovely artists who would grace the stage with their talent. Bonnie Raitt  played at the theater in the 1970’s and still does today. She is known for her songs such as “Something to Talk about” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me”. Harry Connick‚ Jr will be playing here Wednesday‚ June 8th‚ 2016. He is known for being in movies such as Hope Floats which I love. However‚ he also sings and plays the piano. He was also on American Idol as a judge. Who does not love Led Zepplelin who had the famous front man Robert Plant. He graced the stage on March seventh with his band The Sensational Space Shifters. I want to come back here someday and go to a concert.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile‚ Alabama is a cathedral serving Roman Catholics. By 1850 this majestic place was ready to open it’s doors to the public for worship. When My Mother and I walked in we were immediately struck by the profound beauty that was engulfing us. I could not help but feel the peaceful and calming emotions that came over me as I took in the celebrated place. It is as close as you are going to get to the cathedrals in Rome that are mounting with intricate detail and extraordinary history. I saw a man praying next to us and I wondered how many millions of prayers have been said in this very place over the years. It reminded of a little church I found as I made my way up to the Grand Canyon. Inside were hundreds of prayers written on the walls that said‚ “pray for my son‚ he has cancer.” Another one said “pray for my Grandma.”  I wish I could remember all the prayers but in that moment it made me feel connected to other people and that everyone all over the world deals with their own problems in life.  I am grateful for lovely sanctuaries such as these that let us humans come and lay our burdens on God and get a little relief.

The cathedral was designed in Roman Basilica design by a former seminary turned architect.  I can not imagine how many hours of work went into building this haven. I am grateful that there are talented people out there that can make a masterpiece such as this. Most people did not have electricity till 1900’s and one had to have enough money to afford electricity. This cathedral must have first been lit inside by candles and lanterns. That would be beautiful to see. I wish I had a time machine were I could go back and see people come to this lovely church in the 1850’s.

As I took this picture I could not help but see the cross come alive in the sun. Every inch of Downtown Mobile is threaded with history. Mobile did not become apart of  the United States until 1813’.  Spain and Great Britain used to own this land until U.S. took over the Spanish West Florida during the War of 1812’. It would make sense that there is Spanish‚ Victorian‚ and English hints of architecture sprinkled throughout the city.  I enjoyed my short lived adventure and will be back to explore again with my Mother.

What historic places have you visited? Where you struck by it’s beauty as I was?