We the People: 200 years of Bienville Square

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - For more than 200 years Bienville Square has been a gathering place in downtown Mobile. A place to visit or perhaps a quiet place to enjoy breakfast and a cup of coffee.

“Well... It’s nature -- sort of in the middle of everything and not in the middle of everything -- sort of a good choice,” said Steve Wilson, Mobile.

Wilson recalls coming here as a child and hearing stories about the Port City’s past from his dad.

“He and my mom was down here in 1939 before I was born and he told me stories about the brick streets, the building of the Causeway, downtown Mobile. But I love the Square -- I go to Cathedral Square sometime -- but this one is different,” explained Wilson.

Bienville Square and its fountain centerpiece also makes a great first impression -- just ask Christopher Cox and his daughter Penelope visiting from Birmingham.

“Oh it’s clean... It’s pretty -- it’s really nice. There’s a lot history in it... That’s what I was just telling me all about the history of the plaza and when this got redone -- original fountain was over there -- it’s very nice,” said Cox.

In the last five years -- the park has undergone a huge transformation. Hurricane Sally doing a real number on the Square’s massive oak trees in September 2020.

“Bienville Square stood out like a sore thumb,” said Mayor Sandy Stimpson -- following an aerial tour of the damage.

The damage accelerated a $3.2-Million facelift, where a dozen trees were removed and a lot work put in. Bienville Square reopened to the public in May 2024 to mark its 200th anniversary. Upgrades included a major overhaul of the historic fountain, stonework enlarging the center plaza, as well as the surrounding brickscape seating and new landscaping.

“It’s kind of what you want -- I know in Birmingham -- they kind of tore down a bunch of the old stuff -- and you see old pictures of the old train station and stuff and you kind of wish not ... right. Because that is the identity of the city -- because after time -- everything is the same,” said Cox.

And while a lot of things change -- for Mobilians -- Bienville Square is like a dependable old friend.

“The Square has always been here -- and I suspect will always be here,” said Wilson.