After seeing the play at the Courthouse the night before, we wanted to pay our respects. It's a…read moresimple marker flat on the ground, part of a larger plot, marked with a big Lee headstone. A few flowers and a lot of pennies had been left. Pennies to show relatives that visitors had been to the grave. The grave is located in the back wave, newer plots. It's always nice to visit with the departed and have a chat. This was no exception.

A little off the beaten path, but a worthy stop on our vacation journey…read more Upon crossing the bridge and parking, we were greeted by a kind gentleman who had a table set up (selling shirts, books, etc). He introduced himself (I forget his name) and told the story of Bloody Sunday and his family ties to that event. That kicked into a meaningful conversation, which I am thankful for. We then walked the bridge, which was a heavy moment for us (as midwesterners who are mostly sheltered from this sort of history). Upon returning to our car, we struck up some more conversation, and got to meet "Mr. Smith". I didn't understand much of what he said, but I could feel the history in this man. He had a been a saxophone player, and had been around quite some time. He was a genuine spirit, and I am glad to have met him. We left some money on the table, and went on our way.

We visited and crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL on Jan 9, 2026 as part of Road…read moreScholar's "The Civil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham" program. The experience would be perfect if it wasn't raining that day. But we made the best of it. First, we gathered at Songs of Selma for a group photo. Then we took the walkway next to it to cross the bridge. I went across the road to the walkway on the opposite side to better capture the group as they were crossing. I'd have gotten more footage if I wasn't also holding an umbrella over my head at the same time. That wasn't fun. The crossing ended at the Civil Rights Memorial Park, south of the Alabama River. In all, the crossing took 6 minutes. Footage of the crossing is in the video "Day 6: Crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge" on my YouTube channel, in playlist "2026-1: The Civil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham". Also on my playlist is the video "Selma Bridge Experience 01.09.2026", posted by our tour guide of the same crossing. If opportunity presents itself in the future, I'd like to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge again... when it isn't raining.

I went to the beautiful Cathedral in the front of this park and decided to take a stroll around the…read moresquare in the middle of the day. There was a group of black men and a woman harassing me to speak to them and kept beckoning me to go up to them. I ignored them but they kept yelling the whole time that I made the round of the park until I go in my car. And when my family stepped out of the church, then they started yelling and harassing them too. They were yelling things like that I shouldn't be going to church if I don't want to speak to them. It was very unsettling. There should be more police presence in these tourist areas to make sure that people are not being harassed. If it was that unsettling in the middle of the day, I could only imagine at night.

We walked through Cathedral Square on our way to check out the Cathedral of the Immaculate…read moreConception. Cathedral Square is a municipal park - It is bordered by the streets of North Claiborne, Dauphin, North Jackson, and Conti. A little history, This space, at one time, was Campo Santo - which was Mobile's Catholic cemetery (18th Century). The area that is now Cathedral Square quickly became a commercial block filled with buildings after the relocation of the cemetery. The buildings were then demolished in 1979 to create a public park facing the Cathedral. The current park and layout have been here for some time now. There were a few people here, as it was starting to warm up quite a bit and it didn't take too long to get pretty hot (really humid). But if you are going to check out the Cathedral - then this is a nice little green space to see it from and get some pretty cool pictures of the Cathedral.

This tree is part of a very interesting piece of folklore and putative Mobile History. In essence,…read morein 1835, a man (Charles Boyington) was charged, convicted and hanged for the murder of his best friend. On the gallows before the hanging, he proclaimed that an oak tree would grow from this heart as evidence of his innocence. A few years later, someone else confessed to the crime and surprising to most, a tree had already started growing. This is said tree...approximately 190 years old. BTW, Live Oak trees can live up to 500 years. I certainly hope it will.

The legend of this tree is definitely cool. Back in 1835, Charles Boyington was convicted of the…read moremurder of his friend, Nathaniel Frost. Throughout the trial and after his conviction and he sentence to be hanged, Boyington proclaimed his innocence. Just prior to his death, Boyington stated that his innocence would be proven when an oak tree would grow out of his heart and from his grave. Later, two people would confess to the crime, but unfortunately, it was too late for Boyington. An oak tree did indeed grow from the location of where he was buried and still stands today. There are claims that people hear crying and whispering near the tree and attribute it to the ghost of Charles Boyington seeking his vindication. I love these cool discoveries and ghost stories. If you are in Mobile, Alabama, I recommend seeking this tree out.

7/29/2022: Directions are wrong, Jackson's Oak in located within Village Point Park Preserve. Head…read morethere instead of the address listed on Harbor Bluff, that only takes you to a cul de sac within a gated community. The vegetation is too thick and dense to enter on Harbor Bluff unless you have a machete. The entrance in Village Point Park Preserve is more walkable with no hassles. Walk down the pedestrian only road in Village Point Park Preserve, within a quarter of a mile, there will be an unmarked trail on the right, the boardwalk may be slightly visible through the trees. a brisk, quick walk to this tree and bing, you are at the Jackson Oak. I don't understand why this tree has no historical marker, this tree was a between 300-500 years old. Great for kids, great for dogs, there are also various trails throughout the park. There is also an older cemetery in this park, a short walk away.

Jackson's Oak is such a cool piece of American History! The tree is said to stand 95 feet tall…read morewith a 28 foot circumference. It's a point of reference in the Spanish Land Grant of 1787. Of course, the name is derived because General Andrew Jackson is said to have given a speech to his troops from one of its limbs during the War of 1812 while en route to Pensacola. Pictures don't do this breathtaking old massive oak justice. You know it's dripping with tons of Spanish miss that flows in the bay breeze. I can't help but love that tree. To get to the tree, I suggest parking at Bay Front Park and taking the boardwalk to the left. At the end of the boardwalk, take an immediate left and walk the trail all the way around until you see the portapotty and picnic table. Keep walking. You're almost there. There's a little trail down from it off to the right and a sign on the left pointing to the Oak. Just walk a little farther and you'll see the tree, which is surrounded by a boardwalk. They prefer you not walk up to the tree. There's a bench or two to take a break from the walking and a little plaque telling about the tree and its history. It's a cool little nature walk and a great way to kill time.

Nice hiking trail within a housing development in Spanish Fort. The trail begins at a Cul deSac…read morethat is marked by a historical marker sign. The bridge is in diserepair and there are some burned ruins of a former structure, other then that, it was a good hike.

I found this plaque while visiting the Milton Riverwalk. It is hard to imagine such terrible…read moreincidents happened in such a tranquil spot. History is often written in blood and this tragic incident should not be forgotten. The story on the sign is from another era, but we must remember.

Most places/museums in Selma are closed on normal days, mostly due to COVID. So, I was surprised…read morethat this place was open on a Sunday afternoon. They guy working there was so helpful and friendly. He allowed me to go back to the small museum area in the back that was open and then provided me with maps and information about the events surrounding the bridge. The museum area is small (only a small section of the first floor is opened, the other two floors are currently closed due to COVID) but it is still powerful, educational, informative and has pictures/exhibits from that Bloody Sunday and Turnaround Tuesday. The guy working there also provided with a map and pamphlets so I could do a self guided tour and directed my to the Brown Chapel AME Church, where the marchers started. The place is easy to get to and is part of the US Park Service. It is located right before you cross the bridge and has free parking right out front. They also have a small gift shop in the front, where the proceeds help support the Center. In the museum is a power voting display that is definitely worth a few photos. So, if you are touring Selma, this is a must stop. It is FREE and I recommend going here first to get your itinerary laid out. This place is simply awesome. A diamond in the rough.

We arrived in Selma on good Friday so many places were closed. Luckily this superb Center was not…read more The entire building is clean, modern and educational. There are immaculate bathrooms on every floor, safe stairs and an elevator. The film on the third floor is the perfect start, it moved me to tears. In addition, the chairs are so comfortable. There are superb photographs and quotes everywhere. You can see the Edmund Pettus Bridge from the windows and will want to continue your tour there. This is a must see!