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African American Cultural Heritage!

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African-American cultural heritage is integral to the framework of Mobile's past, present and future. Propelled by over 300 years of stories, culture and traditions, our city is honored to share every single one with you.

Historic Avenue Cultural Center

Since its opening on October 4, 2023, the Historical Avenue Cultural Center has played a vital role in enriching the city's cultural landscape. Originally established as the Davis Avenue branch of the Mobile Public Library in 1931, the building served as an educational hub for Mobile's Black community during the segregation era. Once Mobile became integrated, the library closed and facilitated historical documents and images. In 1992, the building was renamed the National African American Archives. Once again, the building underwent a renovation in 2018, courtesy of the Mobile County Commission's exhibits. Officially reopening on October 4, 2023, as the Historical Avenue Cultural Center, it currently hosts the captivating "REMEMBERING THE AVENUE" exhibit, created by the Alabama Contemporary Art Center. The exhibit is open to visitors until December 2024.   

HOURS OF OPERATION

Tuesday – Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday – Monday: CLOSED

Clotilda: The Exhibition at Africatown Heritage House

One of our most poignant stories is that of the Clotilda. In 1860, 52 years after the international slave trade had been outlawed, the secretly outfitted schooner Clotilda was used to smuggle 110 enslaved Africans into the United States, landing along the banks of the Mobile River. In an attempt to conceal the crime, the schooner was burned and scuttled.  The Clotilda is the last known slave ship in the United States. In 2019 the schooner was discovered in the waterways just north of downtown Mobile.  On July 8, the History Museum of Mobile will open the long-awaited exhibit Clotilda: The Exhibition in the newly constructed Africatown Heritage House. The exhibit contains artifacts from the schooner and tell the story of the extraordinary people who survived enslavement and founded a town of free people called Africatown.

Capacity is very limited and timed entry tickets are required. To make sure you’re able to experience Clotilda: The Exhibition on your preferred day, please purchase tickets online in advance of your visit. Click here to purchase tickets!

HOURS OF OPERATION

Tuesday – Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday – Monday: CLOSED

Dora Franklin Finley African-American Heritage Trail

“You can’t know where you are going unless you know where you’ve been.” This is how the late Dora Franklin Finley began all her stories. The architect of the Dora Franklin Finley African American Heritage Trail wanted to share all the contributions that African Americans made to Mobile with the world. Her vision lives on today with a heritage trail that encompasses 40 points of interest, each celebrated with a historical marker. When you tour the DFFAAHT, you will be introduced to Africatown, Stone Street Baptist Church established in 1807 and regarded as the mother church of all African American Baptist churches in Alabama, and the home of Betty Hunter who established a successful hack service in 1876. You will be introduced to historical figures like Wallace Turnage, the inspiration for the book “A Slave No More.” You will learn about Mobile’s great baseball legends including Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige and “Hammering” Hank Aaron. You will see the great historic churches and schools that played such important roles in the fabric of the African American communities.

Our heritage tours give you the opportunity to meet our storytellers and experience the many contributions African Americans have made to Mobile’s story. 

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