Mobile County's Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District Effort Moves Forward

Posted on: Jun 16th, 2025 | Announcements COVID-19 Press Releases Featured News

EVENT ALBUM: 38 photos

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. – Community members gathered at Bishop State Community College on June 12 for a status update on Mobile County’s Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District and to kick off the project’s next effort: a historical context study that will help shape storytelling as well as grant and other applications.

Mobile County’s Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District is a community-driven project, spearheaded by District 1 Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. It aims to honor Mobile County’s civil rights legacy, protect its cultural landmarks, and renew confidence and investment in areas of cultural significance. “This effort ensures that the people, places, and moments that shaped our community’s journey are not forgotten, and our shared history can inspire progress for generations to come,” said Ludgood.

Project Manager Freddie Stokes and Mobile County staff led the public engagement meeting. It provided an overview of the year-long master planning process, recognized the community members who contributed along the way, and offered updates on the district’s branding, completed milestones, and early implementation projects:

Completed: Historic Avenue Cultural Center opened in October 2023
Completed: Isom Clemon Civil Rights Memorial Park opened in January 2025
Completed: Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District Implementation Steering Committee established in March 2025
Underway: restoration of the Dave Patton House
In planning: restoration of the Vernon Z. Crawford law offices
In planning: adaptive reuse of the Ace Theatre through a public-private partnership
Under consideration for renovation: Old Hodges Funeral Chapel

"This project isn't just about preserving buildings, it's about honoring memories, protecting stories, and renewing pride," said Project Manager Freddie Stokes. "We're working with the community to ensure the history that shaped this place is recognized, protected, and carried into a future full of possibility."

The meeting also marked the launch of a historical context study led by preservation consultant Katie Randall, whose firm will document Mobile County’s civil rights legacy and identify sites eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The document produced will also have uses for storytelling, grant applications, and more.

“The context study helps us not just remember the past but protect it, preserve it, and position it for future generations through meaningful recognition and investment,” said Randall. “It gives us the tools to ensure these places are never overlooked again.”

Through this study, the Mobile County Commission and its preservation partners invite residents to help define the timeline, voices, and sites most significant to the civil rights movement in Mobile. Anyone wishing to participate can email publicaffairs@mobilecountyal.gov for more information.

The Mobile County Civil Rights and Cultural Heritage District master plan and some portions of early implementation projects have been funded by Mobile County Commission’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation.