Cathedral Square, Mobile, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral Square |
|
|---|---|
The northwestern entrance to Cathedral Square
|
|
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Mobile, Alabama |
| Area | 1 city block |
| Created | 1996 |
| Operated by | City of Mobile |
| Open | All year |
Cathedral Square is a beautiful public park located in Mobile, Alabama. It's a popular spot for people to relax and enjoy the outdoors. The park is found between North Claiborne, Dauphin, North Jackson, and Conti streets.
A Park with a Past
Long ago, in the 1700s, the area that is now Cathedral Square was part of Mobile's old Catholic cemetery. This cemetery was known as the Campo Santo. It was a very large burial ground.
Most of the graves were moved in 1819. This happened as Mobile's city boundaries grew bigger. The new location for these burials was the Church Street Graveyard. Even after this move, a few old graves were sometimes found by accident along Conti Street, even as late as the 1890s.
After the cemetery was moved, the area became a busy commercial block. Many buildings were constructed there. However, in 1979, these buildings were taken down. The goal was to create a public park right across from the famous cathedral. The park you see today was designed and built in 1996.
What You'll See
Cathedral Square has a special design that looks like the nearby Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The brick paths in the park are laid out to look like the walls and main aisle (called the nave) inside the cathedral.
There is also a curved row of columns with fountains. This part of the park mirrors the rounded end of the cathedral (called the apse). It's a cool way the park connects to the historic building next to it.
