Bienville Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bienville Square |
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Bienville Square from Dauphin Street.
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| Type | Public park |
| Location | Mobile, Alabama |
| Area | 1 city block |
| Created | 1850 |
| Operated by | The City of Mobile |
| Open | All year |
Bienville Square is a famous old park right in the middle of downtown Mobile, Alabama. It's named after Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, who founded Mobile. This park covers a whole city block. It is surrounded by Dauphin, Saint Joseph, Saint Francis, and North Conception streets.
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History of Bienville Square
Bienville Square started as a public park in 1824. The United States Congress gave a large piece of land to the city of Mobile. They said it must always be used as a city park. This land used to be where an old Spanish Hospital stood. The city then bought other parts of the block. By 1849, they owned the whole block.
In 1869, the Mobile Register newspaper wrote about the park's history. It said that for a long time, the park was not well cared for. It was full of trash. But then, a person named Lewis T. Woodruff helped make it beautiful. He worked hard to turn it into the nice park we see today.
From the 1850s to the 1940s, the park was a main meeting spot for people in Mobile. Later, in the 1960s, the park became a bit run down. This happened as many people moved out of the city. But in the 1980s, downtown Mobile started to get better. The city then fixed up Bienville Square, and it became popular again.
Special Events and Visitors
Many important things have happened at Bienville Square.
- In 1905, Theodore Roosevelt, who was the U.S. President, gave a speech here. He talked about how important the Panama Canal was for the port of Mobile.
- During World War II, workers from the Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company often met here. They gathered to discuss issues related to their jobs.
What You Can See in the Park
Bienville Square has many interesting features.
- In the 1850s, walkways, benches, and a cast-iron fence were added. The fence is no longer there.
- Live oak trees were planted to give lots of shade.
- In the 1890s, a large cast iron fountain was placed in the center. It has a fancy leaf design.
- A new bandstand was built in 1941. It replaced an older one from the Victorian era.
In 1977, a special bronze plaque was put in the park. It honors Cudjo Lewis. He was the last known survivor from the Clotilda ship. This ship was the last one known to bring enslaved people to America. Cudjo Lewis was also a founder of Africatown, a community in north Mobile. The plaque was given by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and the Amoco Foundation.
Fun Activities at the Square
Bienville Square is used for many fun events in Mobile.
- Jazz in Bienville: This is a jazz music festival.
- Lighting of the Trees: This is an annual celebration. Mobile's official Christmas tree is lit up here.
- Kids Day in Bienville Square: A special day just for kids.
- Bayfest Music Festival: The square is a main spot for this big music festival every year.
