Hanging Tree in old Blakeley
Legend holds that this
massive tree on the Blakeley
square was used for public
executions.
Legend holds that this
massive tree on the Blakeley
square was used for public
executions.
Walkway at Old Blakeley
This walkway leads along the
riverfront at the site of old
Blakeley and provides a great
place for observing nature.
This walkway leads along the
riverfront at the site of old
Blakeley and provides a great
place for observing nature.
Ghost Town of Blakeley - Spanish Fort, Alabama
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Blakeley State Park, Alabama
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Blakeley State Park, Alabama
| Historic Blakeley Cemetery Gravestones are among the few remains of the once prosperous city of Blakeley, Alabama. The site of the town is now part of Historic Blakeley State Park. |
Lost City of the Mobile-Tensaw
Overlooking the marshes of the Mobile-
Tensaw Delta just north of Mobile is the site
of the Alabama ghost town of Blakeley.
Now a part of Historic Blakeley State Park,
the city once competed with Mobile for the
status of queen city of Lower Alabama. All
that remains today are gravestones, a few
ruins and traces of old streets.
The site of Blakeley had been the location of
important settlements for thousands of
years. Native Americans settled here more
than 4,000 years ago to hunt, fish and gather
food from the rich delta. The early Native
Americans gave way to French settlers, who
lived here after the founding of Mobile.
The Christian Apalachee, a Native American
group that converted to Catholicism,
relocated to the site after British-led Creeks
destroyed their mission villages in Florida.
By 1814, an early settler named Josiah
Blakeley was living at the site. The town of
Blakeley was chartered that same year.
Although some nearby settlements such as
Fort Mims were destroyed during the Creek
War of 1813-1814, Blakeley was spared and
quickly became a thriving town and important
river port. For a time, in fact, it rivaled nearby
Mobile and was the first county seat of
Baldwin County.
The environmental setting that gave Blakeley
its early prosperity, however, also spelled its
doom. The swamps of the Mobile-Tensaw
Delta were filled with mosquitoes and these,
in turn, spread deadly epidemics of yellow
fever and malaria. Massive epidemics swept
the antebellum town, killing scores of
residents and driving others from the
lowlands. The town's old cemetery contains
the mass graves of fever victims, as well as
the resting places of many others once
associated with Blakeley.
Tensaw Delta just north of Mobile is the site
of the Alabama ghost town of Blakeley.
Now a part of Historic Blakeley State Park,
the city once competed with Mobile for the
status of queen city of Lower Alabama. All
that remains today are gravestones, a few
ruins and traces of old streets.
The site of Blakeley had been the location of
important settlements for thousands of
years. Native Americans settled here more
than 4,000 years ago to hunt, fish and gather
food from the rich delta. The early Native
Americans gave way to French settlers, who
lived here after the founding of Mobile.
The Christian Apalachee, a Native American
group that converted to Catholicism,
relocated to the site after British-led Creeks
destroyed their mission villages in Florida.
By 1814, an early settler named Josiah
Blakeley was living at the site. The town of
Blakeley was chartered that same year.
Although some nearby settlements such as
Fort Mims were destroyed during the Creek
War of 1813-1814, Blakeley was spared and
quickly became a thriving town and important
river port. For a time, in fact, it rivaled nearby
Mobile and was the first county seat of
Baldwin County.
The environmental setting that gave Blakeley
its early prosperity, however, also spelled its
doom. The swamps of the Mobile-Tensaw
Delta were filled with mosquitoes and these,
in turn, spread deadly epidemics of yellow
fever and malaria. Massive epidemics swept
the antebellum town, killing scores of
residents and driving others from the
lowlands. The town's old cemetery contains
the mass graves of fever victims, as well as
the resting places of many others once
associated with Blakeley.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Residents of the time did not know the
source of such fevers and blamed them on
the "bad air" of the vast wetlands. Once the
true cause was discovered, malaria and
yellow fever were virtually eradicated, but by
then the town of Blakeley had long been
reclaimed by the forest.
Today visitors to Historic Blakeley State Park
can still explore the remains of the city that
once played an important role in the early
history of Alabama. The historic cemetery still
remains, as do the ruins of the jail.
Otherwise, all that is left is the outline of the
original streets and the massive oak trees
that grow at the site. One of these was,
according to legend, the town's "hanging
tree." Hanging was then the standard form of
execution for criminals of all races.
source of such fevers and blamed them on
the "bad air" of the vast wetlands. Once the
true cause was discovered, malaria and
yellow fever were virtually eradicated, but by
then the town of Blakeley had long been
reclaimed by the forest.
Today visitors to Historic Blakeley State Park
can still explore the remains of the city that
once played an important role in the early
history of Alabama. The historic cemetery still
remains, as do the ruins of the jail.
Otherwise, all that is left is the outline of the
original streets and the massive oak trees
that grow at the site. One of these was,
according to legend, the town's "hanging
tree." Hanging was then the standard form of
execution for criminals of all races.
Confederate Breastworks
Traces of both Confederate
and Union fortifications
surround the site of Old
Blakeley. A major battle was
fought here in April of 1865.
Traces of both Confederate
and Union fortifications
surround the site of Old
Blakeley. A major battle was
fought here in April of 1865.
The Battle of Fort Blakeley
Mobile Area Historic Sites
Historic Sites in Alabama
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| Copyright 2011 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |