Africatown Historic District: A Story of Resilience

Africatown, also known as AfricaTown USA and Plateau, is a historic community located just north of downtown Mobile, Alabama. It was founded by a group of 32 West Africans who were illegally brought to the United States in 1860 on the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive in the country. The Atlantic slave trade had been banned in 1808, but the Clotilda smuggled 110 slaves from the Kingdom of Dahomey into Mobile. To hide the evidence of this crime, the ship was burned and scuttled.After the Civil War, these formerly enslaved people established Africatown, where they maintained their West African customs and languages. The community thrived, with its own churches, schools, and businesses. Despite facing discrimination and the encroachment of industry, the residents of Africatown preserved their unique cultural heritage.The Africatown Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Today, visitors can explore several landmarks that tell the story of Africatown, including the Africatown Heritage House, which showcases the history of the Clotilda and the community's founders. The Old Plateau Cemetery, founded in 1876, is another important site, serving as the final resting place for many of Africatown's early residents. While visiting, please remember that Africatown is a residential area, and respect for the community and its residents is paramount.