Buzz
1. Two significant Revolutionary War battles took place in Mobile, Alabama (then known as West Florida). The initial clash was the 1780 Battle of Fort Charlotte, where Spanish forces backing colonial independence stormed and captured a British-held fort near Mobile. The second encounter, the Battle of Mobile, happened a year later when British troops tried to reclaim Fort Charlotte but were swiftly overpowered.
2. The city of Mobile was established by French settlers in 1702. Over its history, six different flags have flown over the city: France, Spain, Britain, the Republic of Alabama, the Confederacy, and the United States.
3. Alabama made history as the first state to officially recognize Christmas as a legal holiday, doing so in 1836.
4. Alabama holds the unique distinction of being the only state with an alcoholic beverage as its official drink: Conecuh Ridge Whiskey.
5. The official state song of Alabama is aptly named “Alabama.” Authored by Julia Tutwiler, the sole female president of Livingston Normal College (now the University of West Alabama), with music composed by Edna Gockel-Gussen, it was officially adopted in 1931.
6. In Alabama, dressing up as a priest or any religious clergy member for Halloween is illegal. As per Section 13A-14-4 of the Alabama Code, "Anyone who, in a public place, deceitfully pretends to be a minister, nun, priest, rabbi, or other clergy member through attire or appearance is guilty of a misdemeanor." Violating this law can result in a $500 fine and up to one year in jail.
7. Bear wrestling is classified as a Class-B felony in Alabama. The state’s legal code even dedicates an entire section to defining various types of “unlawful bear exploitation.”
8. The visitors' locker room at Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium is famously named "The Fail Room" in tribute to James M. Fail, a graduate of the class of '49.
9. While New Orleans is widely recognized as the modern-day center of Mardi Gras celebrations, the first Mardi Gras in the U.S. actually occurred in Mobile, Alabama, in 1703. Today, Mobile continues to host a significant Mardi Gras festival complete with parades and festivities. Adding a unique local touch, participants on floats toss MoonPies to the cheering crowds.
10. Mardi Gras isn't the only occasion where MoonPies take the spotlight. Mobile also celebrates the New Year by illuminating a massive 12-foot-tall, 600-pound mechanical MoonPie.
11. The inaugural 9-1-1 call was made in Haleyville, Alabama. To test the new emergency system, Alabama Speaker of the House Rankin Fite called U.S. Representative Tom Bevill from City Hall to the local police station. According to reports of the call, Bevill answered with a simple “Hello.” After exchanging pleasantries, the two men hung up and went to enjoy “coffee and doughnuts.”
12. Alabama hosts the Deep-Sea Fishing Rodeo, the largest fishing competition globally. This three-day event draws more than 75,000 spectators and offers 30 categories, such as “Most Unusual Catch.”
13. A unique store in Scottsboro, Alabama, specializes in selling luggage that airlines have lost. Don’t worry—your suitcase won’t end up there on your next flight. The Unclaimed Baggage Center sells items that remain unclaimed after airlines conduct a thorough three-month search to find the owners. After this period, the luggage is sent to the store, where half of the items are sold, and the other half are donated to charity.
14. Huntsville, Alabama, is home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. This facility boasts advanced laboratories, testing areas, and one of the most impressive collections of rockets and space-related artifacts globally. The Saturn V rocket, which propelled the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, was developed here. Additionally, the center hosts the U.S. Space Camp for children.
15. Magnolia Springs, Alabama, features a unique mail delivery system where the U.S. Postal Service uses boats to deliver mail. This route is the only year-round water-based mail delivery service in the United States.
