African American Heritage Trail, Mobile Alabama

The Trail Focuses on the Courage, Intelligence, Determination of the African American People

The African American Heritage Trail is a visit back in time and the African American role in the history of Mobile, Alabama. The area has a diverse multicultural history of Native American, African, Spanish, English, and French.

From the time the first European arrived there were African slaves. In 1711 Fort Conde was built by African and Native American slaves and five free black masons. There was tragedy in the African history. Although we can't forget the heartbreak of Michael Donald's lynching or the slave market. The heritage trail is about the intelligence , the courage and determination of the African community.

Bette Hunter went from being a slave to owning a successful livery business. A,N, Johnson published a newspaper and owned a chain of drug stores. The first public high school for African- Americans was opened in 1887. Along the trail you'll visit the first insurance company for black's, the first mortuary owned by an African-American woman. There were contractors, shop owners, every type of entrepreneur that was needed to support the community.

The African-American's organized school's and build a hospital. In 1902 Dr. T. N. Harris, the first licensed African-American Doctor, opened a medical facility for the black. Dr. J. A Franklin served the black community for fifty-three years.

Great churches were built. Most Pure Heart of Mary Church was the first black Catholic Church. St. Louis Missionary Baptist Church, AME Zion Church and Stone Street Baptist are among the churches on the trail.

The trail wouldn't be complete without visiting the homes of the two greatest baseball players ever, Leroy "Satchel" Paige and Henry "Hank" Aaron.

James Reese Europe was born in Mobile in 1881, was the first to play jazz in Carnegie Hall.

The Creole community was of African, Native American and European mixed blood.In 1819 they founded the first volunteer fire department in Alabama

Africa Town located just north of Mobile was settled by the survivors of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to the United States. They kept their native African culture for many years after settling Africa Town.