A crowd gathered on South Royal Street to welcome a fresh piece of local heritage.
A historic marker honoring the “Pelican Girls” now stands near the History Museum of Mobile and colonial Fort Condé.
The dedication brought families, historians, and curious passersby together to revisit a story from 1704 that helped shape the earliest days of the city.
A Journey Across the Ocean
More than three centuries ago, French officials wanted to strengthen their colony in what would become Mobile.
They arranged an unusual voyage. Young women from France boarded a ship called Le Pélican and crossed the Atlantic to marry settlers and establish families in the new community.
Most of the girls were in their mid-teens, and their arrival offered stability during a time of uncertainty on the Gulf Coast.
The ship’s name inspired the nickname that has lasted through generations: the Pelican Girls.
Descendants Share the Moment
The unveiling ceremony drew descendants who arrived from several states to witness the event.
Some had researched long family lines tracing all the way back to those first marriages in Mobile. The moment carried personal pride.
People took photos, swapped stories, and stepped close to read the plaque’s inscription.
For many, this marker creates a physical connection to a past that often lives in documents and family trees tucked away at home.
A Scout Project Turns Into Public History
Much of the credit goes to Addison Jones, a descendant of one of the original Pelican Girls.
Jones made the marker part of an Eagle Scout Project through Scouting America and pushed the effort forward from idea to installation.
Research, city coordination, and funding all had to come together, and seeing the final result brought smiles during the ceremony.
Jones is also working on a children’s book to introduce younger readers to the Pelican Girls’ story. Teaching kids about local history adds a fresh layer to an already thoughtful project.
A Story You Can Stand Beside
The marker sits in a spot that invites attention from museum visitors, walking tours, and anyone exploring downtown.
People can walk up and learn how 1704 shaped the city that exists now.
It acts as a reminder that Mobile’s story began with real individuals who took chances, boarded ships, started families, and built lives on the Gulf Coast.
The Pelican Girls faced long travel, unfamiliar territory, and the challenges of creating a new community.
The new marker brings their experiences out of the shadows and places them into everyday life where history meets the street.
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