We like to say that anytime you visit our historic city, you'll find exciting and entertaining experiences around every corner. Mobile has a wide variety of museums that are perfect for summer activities! We’ve created a Mobile Museum Bucket List for you to take advantage of:
History Museum of Mobile
First up: The History Museum of Mobile. The building was completed in 1857, and its beautiful and ornate Italianate design has been a landmark in Mobile ever since. The museum is home to many permanent exhibits like, The Faces of Mobile, The Aaron and Sarah Friedman Miniature Gallery, and Old Ways and New Days. The History Museum also showcases featured exhibits that run for limited times. Most recently, The History Museum of Mobile was the only place in America to see the Egyptian Mummies & Eternal Life Exhibit. Travel back in time as you dive into pieces of Mobile’s history, while exploring the many different rooms of the museum. The first Sunday of each month, you can enjoy free admission from 1-5 p.m.
Colonial Fort Condé
Your admission to The History Museum of Mobile also grants you admission to Colonial Fort Conde. Two for the price of one! To further immerse yourself in the rich history that Mobile has to offer, head next door to the Fort. There you will learn about the Colonial Era in Mobile, when it was constructed by the French in 1723. Explore inside or walk along the top where you will find cannons, and one of the best views of downtown Mobile.
Mobile Carnival Museum
You can’t truly understand why Mobile is the city that was Born to Celebrate without knowing the roots we have in Mardi Gras. At the Mobile Carnival Museum you will discover the long history of the Birthplace of America’s Original Mardi Gras, and learn the traditions of Carnival that date back to 1711. In the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, the streets of downtown Mobile are filled with marching bands, colorful floats, cheerful crowds, beads flying throughout the air, and of course, lots of Moonpies! However, for Mobile, Mardi Gras is not just a few weeks of fun, but a year-long affair. Find out the artistry and attention to detail that goes into costume design and float construction. See firsthand the intricate designs that adorned past Mardi Gras monarchs, and view a photo gallery that dates back to 1856. Find out the history of the true birthplace of Mardi Gras, and check the Mobile Carnival Museum off of your Mobile Museum Bucket List this summer. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Gulf Coast Exploreum & Science Center
While the Exploreum is a great place to take the kiddos on a rainy afternoon or if they need to escape the heat for a day, it really is fun for the whole family! Explore numerous interactive exhibits that will spark imagination, curiosity, and a sense of wonder. The Exploreum has collaborated with NASA for a special exhibit: Cosmos 2021. This exhibit adventures into the unknown, and highlights the incredible journey of humans into the cosmos. Through interactives, props, and artifacts, Cosmos 2021 showcases the past, present, and future of space travel. For adult guests, enjoy their 21 & Up Movie Night in the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Digital Dome that happens once a month. The event is BYOW (bring your own wine). Whether you’re a kid, or just a kid at heart there is something to discover at the Exploreum for you, making it an essential item on the museum bucket list!
USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park
Next up is one of the most unique spots in Mobile, USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park! July is the perfect month to visit to keep up your patriotic spirit. Enjoy the sunshine and views of the cityscape on the outer deck of the World War II ship or see how the sailors lived in the lower decks. At Battleship Memorial Park you can learn the history of the “Mighty A,” our nation’s military history and the price paid for freedom. While at the park, you can also view the USS Drum, a WWII naval submarine, and a variety of aircraft. You will definitely want to check this unique destination off of your museum bucket list!
Flight Works Alabama
Imaginations soar as you take flight at Flight Works Alabama, an expansive aerospace exhibition and education center. This is an exciting, comprehensive aerospace exhibition and education center that houses over 40 interactive exhibits, fabrication room, drone aviary, and more! However, no visit to Flight Works Alabama is truly complete without the experience that brings it all together … a tour of the Airbus A320 Final Assembly Line where you can see it all come together right before your eyes.
Mobile Museum of Art
Delve into your artistic side at the Mobile Museum of Art, located in the beautiful Langan Municipal Park. Did you know, the Mobile Museum of Art is the largest art museum from New Orleans, LA to Tampa, FL? The museum features permanent collections of over 6,000 pieces of art, as well as various special exhibits. Currently, a featured exhibit at MMoA is Gordon Parks: Segregation Story in Mobile, 1956. This exhibit showcases photographs of Mobile throughout the Jim Crow era. Learn about the legacy of resistance, sacrifice, and service right here in Mobile. Get in touch with your creative side at the Mobile Museum of Art, and finally complete your Mobile Museum Bucket List!
GulfQuest National Maritime Museum
Take the helm and enjoy the incredible views of the Mobile River and the busy Port of Mobile at GulfQuest. GulfQuest is the first museum in the world dedicated to the Gulf Coast’s rich maritime traditions – and one of only two interactive maritime museum in the U.S. Spend hours exploring the Gulf of Mexico, a national treasure that serves as the international doorway to the Americas. The 90 interactive exhibits are housed on multiple decks of a life-sized replica of a container ship. There are many places to sit and enjoy the views of the city, both inside and outside of the museum.
We hope that you have fun exploring all of the exciting and educational opportunities found only in Mobile! Be sure to share your experience with us using #VisitMobile and #MobileMuseumBucketList.