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What Mobile, Alabama looked like in the 1900s through these Stunning Historical Photos

At the turn of the 20th Century, Mobile’s population increased from about 40,000 in 1900 to 60,000 by 1920. The city received $3 million in federal grants during this time to deepen the shipping channels in the harbor. In the years following World War I, manufacturing became increasingly crucial to Mobile’s economy, especially shipbuilding and steel production. City officials in Mobile passed their first segregation ordinance in 1902, which segregated the city’s streetcars. The African American community in Mobile responded to this with a two-month boycott that ultimately failed. Eventually, Mobile’s de facto segregation would be replaced with legislated segregation. In 1911, the city adopted the commission form of government and expanded streetcar and telephone service. Nevertheless, the war hampered progress once again. When World War I erupted in Europe, trade vessels were recalled for military service, causing the port to stagnate.

The industrial sector also boosted the economy of Mobile at the beginning of the 1900s. Mobile was a major port, shipbuilding and repair center during World Wars I and II. The city remains a center for shipping, shipbuilding, and ship repair.

Here are some stunning historical photos that show Mobile, Alabama, at the turn of the 20th Century.

#1 Bird’s Eye View of Spring Hill College, Mobile, 1900s

#4 Bienville Hotel, Mobile, 1900s

Bienville Hotel, Mobile, 1900s

#7 Insane Hospital, Mt. Vernon, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Insane Hospital, Mt. Vernon, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#9 Bathing at Rolston’s Hotel, Coden, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#11 Box View New Lyric Theatre, Mobile, 1900s

Box View New Lyric Theatre, Mobile, 1900s

#12 Central Presbyterian Church, Dauphin & Ann Street, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#14 Steamboat “City of Mobile” on the Alabama River in Selma, 1903

Steamboat "City of Mobile" on the Alabama River in Selma, 1903

#17 A Nook in the Mission Lobby of the Cawthon Hotel, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

A Nook in the Mission Lobby of the Cawthon Hotel, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#21 Bienville Square, Mobile, 1900s

Bienville Square, Mobile, 1900s

#24 Cawthon Hotel, St. Joseph and St. Francis Street, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Cawthon Hotel, St. Joseph and St. Francis Street, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#25 Central Presbyterian Church, Dauphin & Ann Street, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#26 Chapel and Grounds, Spring Hill College, Mobile, 1900s

#27 Coal Crane For Loading Ocean Going Steamers Mobile, 1900s

Coal Crane For Loading Ocean Going Steamers Mobile, 1900s

#28 Come along to Mobile, Ala. Autoing’s great, 1900s

#31 Convent of Visitation, Mobile, 1900s

Convent of Visitation, Mobile, 1900s

#34 Lyric Theatre, Mobile, 1907

Lyric Theatre, Mobile, 1907

#36 Temple Shaarai Shamayim, Government Street, Mobile, 1906

#37 Students outside a school building in rural Mobile County, 1901

Students outside a school building in rural Mobile County, 1901

#38 A Corridor, Cawthon Hotel, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#41 Bienville Square showing a few of Mobile’s prominent buildings, Mobile, 1900s

Bienville Square showing a few of Mobile's prominent buildings, Mobile, 1900s

#44 Hall Place, Mobile, 1904

Hall Place, Mobile, 1904

#45 A Typical Cotton Compress Scene in the South, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#47 Bienville Square, Mobile, 1900s

Bienville Square, Mobile, 1900s

#48 Birds Eye View overlooking Bienville Square, Mobile, 1900s

#49 Cathedral Rectory, Built by William H. Ketchum Around 1850. 400 Government St., Mobile, 1900s

#50 Children’s Playground in Washington Square, Mobile, 1900s

#51 Confederate Veterans Re-Union, Mobile, 1900s

Confederate Veterans Re-Union, Mobile, 1900s

#54 Corn – On Mobile, 1900s

Corn - On Mobile, 1900s

#55 Cotton Exchange and Chamber of Commerce, Mobile, 1900s

#57 Court House and Jail, Mobile, 1906

Court House and Jail, Mobile, 1906

#61 Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, 1904

Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, 1904

#64 Dog River Fishing and Hunting Club, near Mobile, 1904

Dog River Fishing and Hunting Club, near Mobile, 1904

#67 Elk’s Club, Mobile, 1904

Elk's Club, Mobile, 1904

#70 Entrance to Alabama Insane Hospital, Mt. Vernon, 1900s

#71 Entrance to Ashland Place, former Home of Augusta Evans Wilson (Authoress) in the distance, Mobile, 1900s

Entrance to Ashland Place, former Home of Augusta Evans Wilson (Authoress) in the distance, Mobile, 1900s

#72 Episcopal Church Home, (Orphanage), Mobile, 1900s

#74 Fidelia Club, Mobile, 1904

Fidelia Club, Mobile, 1904

#76 Fire Engine House, Erected in 1843- No. 1 S. Laurence St., Mobile, 1901

#77 First Baptist Church, Mobile, 1901

First Baptist Church, Mobile, 1901

#79 Former Home of Augusta Evans-Wilson, the Authoress, Mobile, 1900s

#80 Fountain and Cross, Bienville Square, Mobile, 1900s

#81 Fountain in Bienville Square, Mobile, 1900s

Fountain in Bienville Square, Mobile, 1900s

#84 Government Street Presbyterian Church and Burgett Memorial, Mobile, 1904

Government Street Presbyterian Church and Burgett Memorial, Mobile, 1904

#87 Government Street, Mobile, 1904

Government Street, Mobile, 1904

#91 Gulf Fishing and Hunting Club, Dog River, Mobile, 1904

Gulf Fishing and Hunting Club, Dog River, Mobile, 1904

#92 Having Fatted on Alabama for 90 Years It Is Now Time for a Change, 1900s

#93 Havoc of the Storm in Biernell Square, Sept. 27, 1906, Mobile.

#94 Hedge of Early Pink Azaleas, Mobile, Alabama, 1901

Hedge of Early Pink Azaleas, Mobile, Alabama, 1901

#97 Inge Bondurant Sanitarium, Mobile, 1901

Inge Bondurant Sanitarium, Mobile, 1901

#100 Jail and Court House in background, Mobile, 1901

#101 Jas. T. Staples ‘Trial Run’ Mobile, 1901

Jas. T. Staples 'Trial Run' Mobile, 1901

#104 Light House, Mobile, 1901

Light House, Mobile, 1901

#107 Logging Train, Mobile, 1907

Logging Train, Mobile, 1907

#109 Magnolia River, Mobile, Ala. – On Mobile, 1907

#110 Main building of the Hotel Joullian, Coden, 1907

#111 Main Buildings, Spring Hill College, Mobile, 1907

Main Buildings, Spring Hill College, Mobile, 1907

#114 McMillan Home, Built Around 1850 – 256 N. Joachim, Mobile, 1907

McMillan Home, Built Around 1850 - 256 N. Joachim, Mobile, 1907

#116 Mill Dam, M.L. Davis’ Saw Mill, Oak Grove, 1907

#117 Mobile Bay, 1907

Mobile Bay, 1907

#119 Mobile Country Golf Club and Links, showing Bay, Mobile, 1907

#121 Mobile Library in 1906. It was Established 1874

Mobile Library in 1906. It was Established 1874

#124 Augusta Evans Wilson Home, Spring Hill Ave, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Augusta Evans Wilson Home, Spring Hill Ave, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#125 Avenue in Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#127 Barton Academy, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Barton Academy, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#130 Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#131 Cawthon Hotel, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Cawthon Hotel, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#133 Confederate Rest. Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#134 Convent of the Visitation Gate, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Convent of the Visitation Gate, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#135 Convent of the Visitation, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#137 Court House, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Court House, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#139 Grotto of Lourdes at Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#141 Live Oak Tree (Spreading over 100 feet), Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Live Oak Tree (Spreading over 100 feet), Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#144 New Home of Augusta Evans Wilson, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

New Home of Augusta Evans Wilson, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#147 Providence Infirmary, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Providence Infirmary, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#148 Reception Hall, Y.M.C.A. Building, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#149 River Front, showing Grain Elevator, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#151 Shell Road, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Shell Road, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#152 Spring Hill College Drive, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#154 Sunrise on Mobile Bay, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Sunrise on Mobile Bay, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#155 The Cloister. Convent of the Visitation, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#156 The Grapery, Seventh Floor, Cawthon Hotel, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#157 The Lake at Jesuit College, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

The Lake at Jesuit College, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#159 Trinity Episcopal Church, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#161 Washington Square, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Washington Square, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#164 Monroe Park and shell road on Mobile Bay, Mobile, 1903

Monroe Park and shell road on Mobile Bay, Mobile, 1903

#165 Augusta Evans Wilson Present Home, Government St., Mobile, 1909

#167 Old Home of Augusta Evans-Wilson, the Authoress, Mobile, 1909

Old Home of Augusta Evans-Wilson, the Authoress, Mobile, 1909

#170 Packet, James T. (BIG JIM) Staples, laying stern upstream, Prairie Bluff, Alabama River, (Mi 225, from Mobile), on Maiden Trip, 1909.

#171 Pat. J. L. Lyons Park, Springhill Ave., Mobile, 1909

Pat. J. L. Lyons Park, Springhill Ave., Mobile, 1909

#174 Providence Infirmary. Mobile, 1909

Providence Infirmary. Mobile, 1909

#176 River Steamers along Municipal Wharf, Mobile, 1909

#177 Royal Street looking South, Mobile, 1908

Royal Street looking South, Mobile, 1908

#181 Ryan Park and Convent of Mercy, Mobile, 1908

Ryan Park and Convent of Mercy, Mobile, 1908

#183 S. Lossing’s Home, Made of Oyster Shells, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#184 Scene on St. Louis St. after the storm of Sept. 27, 1906

Scene on St. Louis St. after the storm of Sept. 27, 1906

#185 Sea Cliff, Alabama, Across the Bay from Mobile, 1906

#187 Shipping at Mobile, 1907

Shipping at Mobile, 1907

#188 Southern Markets Erected on Fort Charlotte’s Foundations, S. Royal St., Mobile, 1907

#190 St. Francis St. Hotel Bienville and Athelstan Club, Mobile, 1907

#191 St. Francis St. M. E. Church, Mobile, 1907

St. Francis St. M. E. Church, Mobile, 1907

#192 St. Francis Street Methodist Church, Mobile, 1907

#194 St. John’s Episcopal Church, Mobile, 1907

St. John's Episcopal Church, Mobile, 1907

#196 St. Joseph St., opposite Bienville Sq. Mobile, 1907

#197 St. Joseph’s Church, Mobile, 1907

St. Joseph's Church, Mobile, 1907

#200 Steamer Saratoga between Havana and Mobile, Mobile, 1906

#201 Steamer Saratoga, Mobile Bay, Mobile, 1906

Steamer Saratoga, Mobile Bay, Mobile, 1906

#202 The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Mobile, 1906

#204 The Country Club, Mobile Bay, 1906

The Country Club, Mobile Bay, 1906

#205 The Great Storm of Sept. 27, 1906, wrecked vessel, Mobile

#207 The New Terminal Station, Mobile, 1907

The New Terminal Station, Mobile, 1907

#211 U.S. Marine Hospital, Mobile, 1907

U.S. Marine Hospital, Mobile, 1907

#212 University Military School and Cadet Battalion, Mobile, 1906

#214 Unloading Bananas from Steamer, 1906

Unloading Bananas from Steamer, 1906

#217 View of St. Joseph St., looking North, Mobile, 1906

View of St. Joseph St., looking North, Mobile, 1906

#220 Wreckage, foot of St. Francis Street, storm. Sept. 27, 1906, Mobile

#221 Y.M.C.A., Mobile, 1904

Y.M.C.A., Mobile, 1904

#222 African American man driving a team of oxen pulling a wagon of logs in Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#223 Confederate memorial parade in downtown Mobile, 1902

#224 Construction of the steamboat “Nettie Quill” in Mobile, 1902

Construction of the steamboat "Nettie Quill" in Mobile, 1902

#225 Abuilding at the Mount Vernon Hospital in Mobile County, 1902

#226 A wagon of watermelons at Mount Vernon Hospital in Mobile County, Alabama, 1902

#227 Buildings at Mount Vernon Hospital in Mobile County, 1902

Buildings at Mount Vernon Hospital in Mobile County, 1902

#228 Doctors and staff in front of the main entrance to the Mount Vernon Hospital in Mobile County, 1902

#229 The superintendent’s residence at the Mount Vernon Hospital in Mobile County, 1902

#231 Damage from a hurricane in downtown Mobile, Alabama, just south of the L & N depot, 1902

Damage from a hurricane in downtown Mobile, Alabama, just south of the L & N depot, 1902

#232 Damage from a hurricane in downtown Mobile, 1902

#234 Damage from a hurricane on a residential street in Mobile, 1902

Damage from a hurricane on a residential street in Mobile, 1902

#235 Damage to the shoreline after a hurricane in Mobile, 1902

#236 Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile, Alabama, 1903

#237 Flooded street at Duncan Place in Mobile, Alabama, after the hurricane of 1906.

Flooded street at Duncan Place in Mobile, Alabama, after the hurricane of 1906.

#238 Flooded street in Mobile, Alabama, after the hurricane of 1906.

#241 North Royal Street in downtown Mobile, Alabama, 1908

North Royal Street in downtown Mobile, Alabama, 1908

#242 Raphael Semmes Camp of the United Confederate Veterans in Mobile, 1907

#243 Raphael Semmes monument in downtown Mobile, Alabama, 1907

#244 Raphael Semmes Monument on Government Street in downtown Mobile, Alabama, 1901

Raphael Semmes Monument on Government Street in downtown Mobile, Alabama, 1901

#245 Ruins of a brick building, probably an Odd Fellows Hall in Mobile County, 1903

#246 Steamboat “Helen Burke” and other steamboats leaving Mobile, Alabama, for Selma and Demopolis, 1903

#247 Steamboat “Helen Burke” leaving Mobile, Alabama, to travel northward, 1903

Steamboat "Helen Burke" leaving Mobile, Alabama, to travel northward, 1903

#248 Steamboat “M. A. Burke” in Mobile, Alabama, 1903

#249 Steamboats “Jas. T. Staples” and “City of Mobile” on the Alabama River in Selma, Alabama, 1903

#250 Students and faculty in front of the public school in Wilmer, Alabama, 1901

#251 Students and teacher outside a school building in rural Mobile County, 1901

Students and teacher outside a school building in rural Mobile County, 1901

#252 Students standing in front of the public school in Whistler, Alabama, 1902

#253 Wreckage at the docks in Mobile, Alabama, after the hurricane of 1906.

#254 Wreckage at the docks in Mobile, Alabama, after the hurricane of 1906.

Wreckage at the docks in Mobile, Alabama, after the hurricane of 1906.

#255 Wreckage at the docks in Mobile, Alabama, after the hurricane of 1906.

#256 Wreckage of the “Steamer ‘Mary” in Mobile, Alabama, after the hurricane of 1906.

#257 A nook in the Mission Lobby of the Cawthon Hotel, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

A nook in the Mission Lobby of the Cawthon Hotel, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#258 Insane Hospital, Mt. Vernon, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

#261 Battle House, Royal and St. Francis Streets, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

Battle House, Royal and St. Francis Streets, Mobile, Alabama, 1900s

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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