Alabama Gulf Coast Introduction

Just southeast of Mobile, the state of Alabama juts in between Florida and Mississippi on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Alabama’s coastline is only about 32 miles long, but those 32 miles of striking white sands and beautiful Gulf waters are a definite lure for any beach traveler.

The coastal area includes Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. It has long been a desirable destination, and was first mapped by Alonzo Pineda in 1519. Eighty years after the Spanish explorer discovered the area, the French began settling along the Alabama shoreline. Their influence is visible in place names like Dauphin Island, which was named for the French heir to the throne and once served as the capital of the French territory.

Later, the British and Spanish controlled this coastline. When the United States took it over in1813, the area became part of the territory that would become the state of Alabama. For much of its history, the Gulf Shores region has been a shoreline defensive post, protecting the city of Mobile and its harbor in Mobile Bay. Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines were both built in the early 1800s and have survived the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II. During the Civil War, Fort Morgan played a key role in the famous Battle of Mobile Bay.

It’s been a while since the Alabama gulf has experienced the destructive forces of cannon fire and gunboats, but this small section of the state still must defend itself against the destructive forces of nature. Hurricane season runs from June through November in the Gulf of Mexico, and Alabama’s coast is not immune from attack. In 1979, Hurricane Frederic blew through with winds up to 150 mph, destroying 80 percent of the man-made structures in Gulf Shores. Twenty-five years later, Hurricane Ivan made landfall nearby, causing extensive flooding and property damage as well.

But the occasional hurricane winds don’t knock down tourism for long. Vacationers looking for an active or relaxing beach getaway keep knocking on the Alabama Gulf Coast’s door. And the sugar white sands and emerald green waters always lay out the welcome mat.