Mobile 3/30/2019

This week we spent  a few days in Mobile, AL while we stayed at Meaher State Park. The campground there is situated directly on Mobile Bay where the Tensaw and Mobile Rivers empty into it. We found this place last summer when we passed through here, and knew we had to return.

On Tuesday, we headed to the Gulfquest Maritime Museum, an interactive museum dedicated to the historical, cultural and economic significance of the Gulf of Mexico. The entire building is designed to resemble a container ship, with exhibits that focus on topics from hurricanes, shipwrecks, sailing, offshore drilling, fishing, and so much more. There are over 90 hands-on exhibits like piloting a ship into a loading area, using latitude and longitude to figure location, using wind to sail a boat, using pulleys to lift weights, and lots more. Located on the rampways on either side of the container ship are common sayings with maritime origins highlighted on individual panels.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here, which was enhanced by the fact that there were hardly any other visitors that day.

On Wednesday, we visited Bellingrath Gardens, where we missed the amazing azalea displays by about a week. Nevertheless, the gardens and wooded paths were still a delight, and a peaceful soul-calming experience. The weather was perfect, in the 70s and sunny, clear and dry. We stopped in to the Boehm Porcelain gallery at the garden. The building that houses the collection  was originally designed in 1939 as a six-car garage with guest quarters above. The gallery was created in 1967 to house this collection  and represents the largest public display of the works of the American sculptor, Edward Marshall Boehm.

Photos of Bellingrath are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JJCQ24u4YKg8v5n77
A few of the maritime phrases are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/gAjvAQQZj69j5f9b6