Permanent Exhibits

The Aaron & Sarah Friedman Miniature Gallery

When Aaron Friedman sold his business in the late 1970s, he began looking for “something to do” in his spare time. His daughter-in-law suggested that he “build a dollhouse” for his oldest granddaughter. That project took on a life of its own that occupied a significant portion of the last 20 years of Aaron’s life.

Ultimately, Aaron built the eight magnificent miniature houses that are now located at the History Museum of Mobile – one for each of his granddaughters and one for his wife, Sarah. Each house is built to exacting one-inch-to-one-foot scale and took a year or more to plan and build. For two of the houses, Friedman copied actual houses in Mobile (the “Tacon-Tissington-Barfield” and “McGowin-Creary” houses on Government Street).

Architectural details are impressive in their detail. Each house has siding made of real wood, real fired bricks, or hand-cast stone tiles; a roof made asphalt or clay tile shingles or metal panels, doors and windows that open and close, and a working electrical system for the tiny lamps and chandeliers, all of which light up. 

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Old Ways New Days Part I

This exhibit takes you back in time to Mobile’s first inhabitants, the Native Americans. As you embark on your journey back to the present time you will learn about Mobile’s fascinating 300 year history which includes Colonial era, Slavery, WWII, the Civil Rights movement in Mobile, and more.

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Old Ways New Days Part II

This exhibit explores Mobile’s history using topical themes that are interesting to everyone. Interactive exhibits are interspersed with exciting artifacts that tell the stories of Mobile’s disasters, diversity, recreational activities, local industry and much more.

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Mobile's History in Art: 30 Decades in 30 Works

In celebration of Mobile’s 2002 tricentennial, the Press-Register commissioned 30 works of art — one for each decade of Mobile history to that point. For years, those works were on view at the Press-Register building, which also opened in 2002. Now, they’re part of the permanent collection of the History Museum of Mobile, on view together in a special exhibition opening August 5, 2022. Come discover this artistic exploration of local history!

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