Mobile, Alabama (9th September)

We have 3 attractions to see today. The first is Oakleigh House, a mansion built 1833. It wasn't a plantation house as there were never crops grown but the owner did make bricks, including the bricks that built the house. The guides give a history of Mobile as "seen" by the house, the parties, the intrigue, and the ups and downs of the families. Next we go to the Welcome Centre and Fort Conde. It starts to rain so the museum is exactly where we need to be. Mobile has seen French, Spanish, British and Civil War action, and its fortune has ebbed and flowed depending on what was happening. But overall Mobile has fared pretty well and has some lovely houses in the historic district. Our last stop for the day is the Battleship Memorial Park, which has the USS battleship Alabama and the USS submarine Drum to look over plus a number of planes. It is hard yakka going up and down the ladders and it is a big ship. We stay in Mobile another night.