Construction on the new Africatown Welcome Center is nearly finished, and the City of Mobile is now turning its attention to what will go inside, asking community members to share stories, photographs and artifacts tied to Africatown’s history. Officials say those personal contributions are essential to telling the community’s story once the center opens.
“We don’t have anything if we don’t have their stories, their pictures and their artifacts,” said Shonnda Smith, the city’s public works executive director.
Africatown was founded in 1866 by survivors of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive in the United States. The welcome center, located off Africatown Boulevard, is intended to serve as the starting point for visitors who want to learn about the community’s history before continuing on to other sites, including the Africatown Heritage House and the Clotilda landing site.
The $5.1 million project broke ground in May of last year, and the city hopes to complete this phase of the work by December so the center can open to the public. Community members with stories, photos or artifacts to contribute can email AfricatownWelcomeCenter@cityofmobile.gov or call 251-208-1199.