National Maritime Museum of the Gulf

Welcome Aboard!

Shaped like a ship and overlooking the Mobile River, the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf invites visitors to explore eight “decks” filled with more than 80 immersive exhibits.

Journey through centuries of maritime history as you discover famous shipwrecks, marine archaeology, early settlements and trade routes, the Atlantic slave trade, the Civil War and World War II, catastrophic hurricanes, maritime commerce and shipbuilding, navigation, offshore oil and gas rigs, and much more. The museum is also home to the brand-new Jimmy Buffett Son of a Sailor Experience, a permanent exhibit celebrating the life, music and Gulf Coast roots of one of the region’s most beloved storytellers. Explore more than 130 artifacts and immersive displays that reveal Buffett’s connection to the water, his hometown of Mobile and the maritime culture that helped shape his life and career.

Your adventure continues beyond the galleries. Step onto one of the museum’s balconies for spectacular views of the Mobile River and the Port of Mobile, where you can watch ships and tugboats make their way along the waterfront. You may even get a wave and a friendly horn blast from a passing tugboat. And there’s more on the horizon.

Coming in Spring 2027, Mosaic Delta will invite visitors to discover the wonders of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, one of America’s most diverse and dynamic ecosystems. Often called “America’s Amazon,” this vast network of rivers, bayous and wetlands is home to extraordinary wildlife, rich cultural history and breathtaking natural beauty. Through immersive displays, interactive maps and firsthand stories, visitors will explore how the Delta shapes the environment, economy and way of life along Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

Whether you’re a maritime enthusiast, history lover, Jimmy Buffett fan, Gulf Coast local or simply looking for a memorable experience, there’s always a story waiting to be discovered at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf. Come explore, learn and experience the Gulf. Come and Sea!