Civil Rights and Cultural Heritage District Master Plan & Implementation

What: The Master Plan for Mobile County's Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District, made with community input, is a guide for the future, helping to HONOR • PROTECT • RENEW an area important to local history centered on “The Avenue” (Mobile’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue corridor), with a focus on attracting both tourism dollars and additional investments.

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Why: "The Avenue" has served as the cultural, social and economic hub of Mobile’s African American community, and it has a rich history tied to the civil rights movement. This project will preserve historic sites, interpret the district’s stories and fuel revitalization through local heritage tourism.

What's happening: A historical context study associated with the civil rights movement in Mobile, Alabama kicked off in June of 2025. This study adheres to National Park Service (NPS) guidelines and provides source material for storytelling, interpretive elements of the district. It will provide context for grants and other applications.

The master plan offers a shared vision, and work to bring it to life will unfold step by step. Some anchors are complete and early implementation projects are underway:

Historic Avenue Cultural Center opened in October 2023 and features "Remembering the Avenue," a civic practice exhibition curated by Jada Jones through Alabama Contemporary Arts Center's Guest Curator Program. The exhibit enlists the local community in mapping history, legacy, and possible futures for historic Davis (now Dr. Martin Luther King Jr) Avenue.
Isom Clemon Memorial Civil Rights Park opened in January 2025, featuring a bronze statue of Isom Clemon, plaques depicting key moments in Mobile’s civil rights history, a sculpture by local artists Frank Ledbetter and Charles Smith entitled “Guardian of Labor, Liberty, & Love,” as well as new benches, tables, and a play area for children.
Dave Patton House is being renovated to become a featured local legacy site for heritage tours and an event space. The project includes structural reinforcement, ADA-compliant upgrades, and preservation of the home's historic architecture and furnishings.
Crawford Law Firm project is in the planning stage to create a local legacy site that will highlight the many groundbreaking local legal actions that began in the offices of Mobile's "Dean" of Black attorneys, Vernon Z. Crawford.
Ace Theatre renovation/expansion through a public-private partnership is in the planning phase to create exhibit and event spaces.
Old Hodges Funeral Chapel project is in the planning phase. The building is being considered for renovation as the future headquarters of the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (MAMGA)

The master planning project kicked off publicly in January 2024 with research and information gathering, which was followed by public engagement events Feb. 21-22, 2024, and a charette with concept planning May 16-20, 2024. The master plan was presented publicly on Sept. 4, 2024. The plan was refined and delivered to the Mobile County Commission in January 2025.

How: The Mobile County Commission received funds for COVID-19 response and recovery through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Commissioners Merceria Ludgood, Connie Hudson, and Randall Dueitt prioritized and assigned funding to five key areas that include improving public facilities and infrastructure as well as increasing efforts for economic recovery and growth.

A project of the Mobile County Commission spearheaded by District 1 Commissioner Merceria Ludgood

Master Plan Project Manager: Freddie Stokes

Historical Context Study Consultant: Afore Preservation, Katie S. Randall

Master Plan Consultants: The Walker Collaborative (Common Ground Urban Design + Planning; SARCOR; Anitra Henderson, Lyvve Strategies; Peritus Public Relations; Randall Gross / Development Economics; Eric Finley)

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