Editor’s Note: During this period of social distancing, Student Group Tour magazine will continue to provide ideas for planning educational travel. Many attractions and destinations are closed at this time; please contact them directly for updated information. 


The History Museum of Mobile in downtown Mobile, Alabama, operates three campuses: Old City Hall-Southern Market Building, Colonial Fort Condé and Phoenix Fire Museum. The primary exhibitions — located in Old City Hall — include over 117,000 objects that help relate the many stories of Mobile and the surrounding area, from the prehistoric past to today.

Currently, all tours are self-guided. During normal business operations, museum educators lead tours.

“All tours and exhibitions support Alabama Course of Study content standards for social studies,” said Jennifer Theeck, curator of education at the museum. “Students will get a good overview of Mobile, Alabama, and area history and educational information on our special exhibitions.”

History Museum of Mobile
Transportation exhibit, History Museum of Mobile
Credit: History Museum of Mobile

The museum’s permanent collection spans two floors. Admission to the museum also includes admission to Colonial Fort Condé.

Hands-on experiences called Making History Activities last about an hour. Students are able to make items such as marbled paper, trade beads, quilt squares or quill pens.

The museum additionally hosts traveling exhibits throughout the year. Expected to visit the museum this fall, the “Hubble Space Telescope: New Views from the Universe” traveling exhibit is 2,200 square feet and features a scale model of the Hubble Space Telescope. Hands-on activities allow students to experience the same technology used by Hubble.

In late February of 2021, the museum is scheduled welcome the “Egyptian Mummies and Eternal Life” traveling exhibit.

“Visitors will see real mummies from ancient Egypt — some unwrapped — in this world-class exhibition,” Theeck said. “The exhibition takes a close-up, scientific look at the process of mummification and embalmment as practiced by the ancient Egyptians in their quest for immortality.”

The exhibit will be available until June 2021.

In addition to the traveling exhibits, students can take the Scavenger Hunt tour; working together, students will find the answers to questions regarding specific exhibits.

“Tours of our permanent collection are memorable, too, and we find classes return again and again,” Theeck said.

Currently, the History Museum of Mobile caps group sizes at 60. Contact the museum directly to inquire after guided tour options or if they are available at this time.

For more on the History Museum of Mobile call 251-208-7569 or go to historymuseumofmobile.com.