Mayor Stimpson reclaims Mobile's title as 'Birthplace of Mardi Gras'

Jan 28th, 2015

MOBILE, Ala. - Mayor Sandy Stimpson is reclaiming the City of Mobile's title as "Birthplace of Mardi Gras" leading up to the city's first parade of the carnival season.

The City of Mobile unveiled a new sign and billboards this week welcoming visitors to Mobile and highlighting the city as the place where Mardi Gras made its debut.

Click here to view a special video message from Mayor Stimpson.

"We are staking our claim as the birthplace of Mardi Gras," said Mayor Stimpson. "I wish Mayor Landrieu and all our friends in New Orleans a happy Mardi Gras, but remember that Mobile is where it all began."

Mardi Gras was first observed in the New World by French pioneers in 1703 at Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff, the first settlement of Mobile. The city's first parade of the 2015 season is set to roll Friday at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Mobile.

Just in time for Carnival season, a new sign welcoming visitors to Mobile as the "Birthplace of Mardi Gras" was installed Wednesday above the marquee at the Mobile Civic Center, on Canal Street just west of Interstate 10.

Additional billboards promoting Mobile's Mardi Gras were installed on I-65 between Dauphin and Springhill northbound, and on I-10 near Texas Street eastbound. The signs will be in place through Feb. 18.

Digital images of the signs are available upon request.

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Contact:

George Talbot
City of Mobile
251-208-7590
George.Talbot@CityofMobile.org