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EXPLORE THE TRAIL

The People, Places & Stories of Mobile

Discover the people, places, and stories that shaped African American history in Mobile — from Africatown to the courageous figures who changed the nation.

EXPLORE BY LOCATION

Two Cornerstones of the Trail

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The Clotilda

Learn the story of the last known slave ship to arrive in the United States and the founding of Africatown by its survivors.

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Old Plateau Cemetary

Explore one of the most significant burial grounds tied to Africatown’s founders and descendants.

LISTEN AS YOU EXPLORE

Audio Tour Experience

Narrated stories from key locations along the trail — explore the history at your own pace. The full library features 41 stops across eight themes.

Africatown (#2)

#2 Africatown
00:00 / 03:06

Union Baptist Church (#38)

#38 Union Baptist Church
00:00 / 00:40

Plateau Graveyard (#31)

#31 Plateau Graveyard
00:00 / 00:46

Wallace Turnage (#8)

#8 Wallace Turnage
00:00 / 01:54

HISTORIC MARKERS

Marking the Places That Made History

A selection of the 44+ sites along the trail. Each marker tells the story of a person, place, or institution that shaped Mobile's African American history.

Built in 1915, the Dave Patton House stands as a powerful testament to the life and work of Dave Patton — a visionary entrepreneur, builder, and community leader.

Dave Patton House

Built in 1915, the Dave Patton House stands as a powerful testament to the life and work of Dave Patton — a visionary entrepreneur, builder, and community leader.

Thomas Virgil Pittman was born on March 28, 1916, in Enterprise AL. He graduated from the University of Alabama, in 1939 and its School of Law, in 1940. In June 1966, President Lyndon Johnson nominated, and the U.S. Senate confirmed, Judge Pittman to the United States District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama. He served as Chief Judge of the Southern District Court for the Southern District of Alabama from 1971-1981, when he assumed senior status.

Judge Virgil Pittman

Thomas Virgil Pittman was born on March 28, 1916, in Enterprise AL. He graduated from the University of Alabama, in 1939 and its School of Law, in 1940. In June 1966, President Lyndon Johnson nominated, and the U.S. Senate confirmed, Judge Pittman to the United States District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama. He served as Chief Judge of the Southern District Court for the Southern District of Alabama from 1971-1981, when he assumed senior status.

Broad Street Academy was the first public high school in Mobile for African-Americans. Founded in 1887.

Caldwell School

Broad Street Academy was the first public high school in Mobile for African-Americans. Founded in 1887.

Established before 1845, Sand Town predates the United States Civil War and is the oldest African American neighborhood in Spring Hill.

Sand Town

Established before 1845, Sand Town predates the United States Civil War and is the oldest African American neighborhood in Spring Hill.

Alabama’s oldest Baptist Church founded in 1806 by slaves freed by their master.

Stone Street Baptist Church

Alabama’s oldest Baptist Church founded in 1806 by slaves freed by their master.

Designed as a miniature replica of the Mobile Public Library and only option for black Mobilians during Jim Crow era.

National African-American Archives

Designed as a miniature replica of the Mobile Public Library and only option for black Mobilians during Jim Crow era.

First black owned Drug Store in Mobile. "Live and Let Live" opened in 1901. Williams was a published writer, poet, and orator.

Dr. H. Roger Williams

First black owned Drug Store in Mobile. "Live and Let Live" opened in 1901. Williams was a published writer, poet, and orator.

The first volunteer fire company in Alabama. Founded in 1819 by members of Mobile’s Creole community.

Creole Firehouse #1

The first volunteer fire company in Alabama. Founded in 1819 by members of Mobile’s Creole community.

Africatown is the site in Mobile, Alabama, along the Gulf Coast where the last cargo of Africans landed in 1860. Their landing marked the last recorded attempt to import Africans to the United States for the purpose of slavery.

Africatown

Africatown is the site in Mobile, Alabama, along the Gulf Coast where the last cargo of Africans landed in 1860. Their landing marked the last recorded attempt to import Africans to the United States for the purpose of slavery.

Restoring Justice

Founded The Union Mutual Aid Association - Mobile's first black life insurance company. By 1920 Johnson had written over $9 million in insurance. He was the ninth pastor of St. Louis Street Baptist Church.

Christopher First Johnson House

Founded The Union Mutual Aid Association - Mobile's first black life insurance company. By 1920 Johnson had written over $9 million in insurance. He was the ninth pastor of St. Louis Street Baptist Church.

Produced a culturally diverse curriculum that exposed students and the African-American community to the arts during the Jim Crow Era.

Dunbar/Central High School

Produced a culturally diverse curriculum that exposed students and the African-American community to the arts during the Jim Crow Era.

She was one of the first two black students to enroll at the University of Alabama in 1963, and in 1965 became the university's first black graduate. She was made famous when George Wallace, the Governor of Alabama, attempted to block her and James Hood from enrolling at the all-white university.

Vivian Malone Jones

She was one of the first two black students to enroll at the University of Alabama in 1963, and in 1965 became the university's first black graduate. She was made famous when George Wallace, the Governor of Alabama, attempted to block her and James Hood from enrolling at the all-white university.

African survivors of the Clotilda Organized Union Baptist Church in 1869 in Africatown. Cudjo Lewis, was the last survivor of the Clotilda. He died in 1935.

Union Baptist Church

African survivors of the Clotilda Organized Union Baptist Church in 1869 in Africatown. Cudjo Lewis, was the last survivor of the Clotilda. He died in 1935.

Final resting place of the Clotilda survivors in Africatown. Obelisk marking Cudjo Lewis’ grave was donated by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Old Plateau Cemetery

Final resting place of the Clotilda survivors in Africatown. Obelisk marking Cudjo Lewis’ grave was donated by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

First Alabama mortuary owned by an African-American woman, Mrs. Pearl Johnson Madison.

Christian Benevolent Funeral Home

First Alabama mortuary owned by an African-American woman, Mrs. Pearl Johnson Madison.

Established in 1854, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is the oldest black Episcopal congregation in Alabama and the third oldest Episcopal congregation in the state.

Church Of The Good Shepherd

Established in 1854, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is the oldest black Episcopal congregation in Alabama and the third oldest Episcopal congregation in the state.

The first licensed African-American physician in 1900. He established Mobile’s first medical facility for Blacks in 1905.

Dr. Thomas N. Harris

The first licensed African-American physician in 1900. He established Mobile’s first medical facility for Blacks in 1905.

Mr. Wiley L. Bolden, Sr., along with John L. LeFlore, was a leader of the Mobile, AL Chapter of the NAACP and a veteran civil rights activist.

Wiley L. Bolden Sr.

Mr. Wiley L. Bolden, Sr., along with John L. LeFlore, was a leader of the Mobile, AL Chapter of the NAACP and a veteran civil rights activist.

Successful entrepreneur and community advocate at the turn of the century.  He owned People's Drug Store, Johnson Mortuary, and published the "Mobile Weekley Press".

Andrew N. Johnson

Successful entrepreneur and community advocate at the turn of the century. He owned People's Drug Store, Johnson Mortuary, and published the "Mobile Weekley Press".

First African-American Catholic Church in the City of Mobile. Supported the Civil Rights Movement during the 60’s.

Most Pure Heart of Mary

First African-American Catholic Church in the City of Mobile. Supported the Civil Rights Movement during the 60’s.

Alabama’s oldest black Mortuary.

Johnson and Allen Mortuary

Alabama’s oldest black Mortuary.

Instrumental in desegregating schools, rail cars, postal service, and the police force in Mobile.

John LeFlore Non-Partisan Voter’s League Office

Instrumental in desegregating schools, rail cars, postal service, and the police force in Mobile.

The present building was constructed in 1867 and sits on the corner of Church and Bayou streets. The Church is listed in the national register of Historic Places.

Big Zion Church A.M.E. Church

The present building was constructed in 1867 and sits on the corner of Church and Bayou streets. The Church is listed in the national register of Historic Places.

Records of the parish date back to 1704 and record the births, baptisms, marriages and deaths of Mobile’s diverse origin.

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Records of the parish date back to 1704 and record the births, baptisms, marriages and deaths of Mobile’s diverse origin.

Historic Markers Revealed

Tour Maps

map A
map B
map c_edited
map D
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