It is named after the great-grandson and heir of Louis XIV of France, the Dauphin, and future King Louis XV. Dauphin refers to the king’s eldest son in French. However, Dauphin Island Alabama is not pronounced in the French way, but is pronounced similarly to the word “dauphin” if you exclude the letter “L.” Yes, it’s confusing!
Dauphin Island is home to less than 1,500 people and is a quaint, sleepy island. However, there is a lot to this small island, including Fort Gaines, the Estuarium public aquarium, and the Dauphin Island Marine Laboratory, among other things. There are several bird sanctuaries on the island, as this is the first time many birds have come ashore as they migrate north from South America.
I know there are a lot of fun things to do in Mobile, so netherlands email list you might be tempted to skip Dauphin Island. However, it is a fun day trip (or more!) and worth checking out when you visit Mobile.
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A Brief History of Dauphin Island
Evidence of Native American inhabitants has been found dating back to around 500 AD. The Native American Mound Builders culture was believed to have lived on the island at least seasonally. Shell Mound Park is dedicated to them.
The Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda was the first European to visit it in 1519. The French arrived in 1699, when one of the founders of French Louisianna, Pierre Le Moyne, visited. He named the island Massacre (Ile du Massacre) as he found a large pile of human skeletons that were believed to be a massacre site. It turned out to be a Native American burial mound that had been torn open by a hurricane. However, the name stuck until it was changed to Dauphin Island. For a short time, Dauphin Island was the capital of French Louisiana.
