Front Of Achinson Home — After your vintage house walking tour, check out Achinson Home to recreate that look in your own abode. Photo via Achinson Home website.

Welcome back to week four of The Bama Buzz exploring Mobile’s varied and gorgeous historic districts! Last week, we took a look at Oakleigh Garden Historic District and all the beauty it has to offer. This week, let’s hop across Government Street and check out the Old Dauphin Way Historic District!

What makes a historic district?

Historic Districts Of Mobile Map — Historic districts of Mobile Map. Rendering via Mobile.org.

In the City of Mobile, we have registered 7 different districts on the National Register of Historic Places and a few more locally recognized and maintained as historic districts even if not on a registry. Here’s a list of the historic districts in Mobile:

Church Street East
Lower Dauphin (LoDa)
Oakleigh Garden District
Old Dauphin Way
Leinkauf
Ashland Place
De Tonti Square
Midtown Mobile
Africatown and the African American Heritage Trail

The easiest way to tell if a building is historical, especially in Mobile, is to look for a certain plaque issued by the Mobile Historic Development Commission. They look a bit like this:

Mobile Historic Development Plaque — Mobile Historic Development Commission plaque. Photo via MobileHD.org.

The Old Dauphin Way Historic District

You know that nostalgic feeling you get when walking through a new city? Where you’re surrounded by history, but you can’t quite place what it is? That’s what walking through Old Dauphin Way feels like (at least for me!). Founded in 1974 as a historic district, Old Dauphin Way is the largest of Mobile’s historic districts, with over 3000 unique structures that make up the homey and historic neighborhood.

What sets it apart is that most of these historic buildings are still in everyday use. Cute craftsman style homes or bungalows originally built to house blue-collar workers can host anything from a law firm to a hairdresser in the Old Dauphin Way District! Other than that, the Old Dauphin Way Historic District is mostly made up of residential neighborhoods that make a walk around the block breathtakingly beautiful.

Kate Shepard House — The Shepard House B&B is only one of many gorgeous homes in Monterey Place. Photo via Kate Shepard B&B on Facebook.

Looking for a great place to start or finish your walk? Try Monterey Place, an idyllic street full of American Foursquare and bungalow (among other stylistic) homes. Plus, the Kate Shepard House sits brilliantly at the end of the street. As a mostly residential area, you’ll find most of the homes in Monterey Place are inhabited by regular Mobilians preserving the history of these buildings.

Atchinson Home Showroom — Just look at all those vintage goodies! Photo via Atchison Home website.

If all the vintage homes and their perfectly curated decor inspire you, check out Atchison Home Antique Furniture, where you can peruse over 20,000 square feet of elegant and sophisticated boutiques.

Address: 921 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36604
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 am — 5 pm; Saturday: 10 am — 3pm; Closed Sundays
Contact: 251-438-4800 | Website | Facebook

Pizza At Red Or White — Dinner & a drink? Don’t mind if we do. Photos via Red or White on Facebook.

Wine At Red Or White — Dinner & a drink? Don’t mind if we do. Photos via Red or White on Facebook.

Looking for a spot for some dinner & drinks after exploring Old Dauphin Way? Try Red or White Mobile, a fusion wine bar and shop, where you can enjoy their ever-rotating wine menu, or even get a great bite to eat!

Address: 1104 Dauphin Street Mobile, AL, 36604
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 10:30 am — 5:30 pm; Friday & Saturday: 10:30 am — 9:30 pm; Closed Sundays; Retail on Mondays from 10:30 am — 5:30 pm.
Contact: 251-478-9494 | Website | Facebook

Old Dauphin Way is a great way to see that old town charm that is still very much alive in Mobile. Go take an awesome nature walk and immerse yourself in the Old Dauphin Way Historic District.