Dauphin Island AlabamaAn important barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, Dauphin Island Alabama is three miles south of Mobile Bay. If you want to visit, your route will probably cross over a three miles long high rise bridge. This replacement bridge was opened in 1982 after Hurricane Frederic destroyed the draw bridge previously there.There's also one other method of getting your automobile on the island: You can use the auto ferry at Fort Morgan that unloads at Dauphin Island's Eastern end. This island is about fourteen miles long by one and three quarters mile wide. Six miles of the Eastern edge are inhabited, while eight miles on the Western part are both privately owned and undeveloped. Around 1,200 residents call Dauphin Island Alabama home. Shrimping and fishing is the occupation of many of the island's residents. Seafood fresh from the bay is on numerous restaurant menus and this is a vacation highlight that a lot of visitors look forward to each year. Dauphin Island is rich in history and that is partially reflected by its crest. The crest used by the city depicts Ft. Gaines, two cannons, a shrimp boat and a dolphin. There's also pelicans, Fleur De Lis (stylized lily) and a sailing ship on the detailed crest. Native Americans of the mound building culture occupied the island on a seasonal basis. As evidence, there are serpentine shell middens dating back to around 1,500 years ago at Shell Mound Park on the island's northern shore. In 1519, Spanish explorer Alonzo Pineda became the first European to make a thorough map of the island. The French first visited in 1699. One French explorer was Pierre Le Moyne, one of the founders of French Louisiana. He named present-day Dauphin Island, Massacre Island, because his party found many human skeletons. For a time, these skeletons were thought to have been the result of war, but later it was determined that the skeletons were found on burial grounds. There are many visitors to this idyllic island during holiday and vacation times. The entire island is a bird sanctuary and many people come to see annual migrations. On the east edge of the island there is historic Fort Gaines, a campground, boat launch sites, Sea Lab, and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. If you visit Dauphin Island Alabama, there are condos, motels and private homes to rent. Surf fishermen and beach goers love the beaches which surround the island. There are fishing piers that provide access to Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico. Many charter boats offer deep water fishing trips. Both surfers and swimmers enjoy the sparkling water and beaches during the summer. Beach combing offers numerous opportunities for shell hunting, bird watching, and just plain relaxation. The beaches are sugar white and public parks and golf courses provide many avenues for recreation. This gorgeous island is a peaceful resort destination, with much to offer. If you are vacationing at Gulf Shores, a day trip to Dauphin Island via the Mobile Bay Ferry at Fort Morgan makes a great day trip. New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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