A Cultural Attraction

Museums rank among the top three family vacation destinations in the U.S., and provide millions of hours of educational programs for schools and families each year. As an educational resource and cultural attraction, GulfQuest will have a positive impact on the entire Gulf Coast region.

GulfQuest’s market area consists of the coastal regions of the Gulf states – from Texas to Florida – and extending north into Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. The museum will appeal to Gulf Coast visitors – those staying here, as well as those just passing through. With two interstates – I-10 and I-65 – converging in Mobile, leisure travelers represent a significant market.

In addition, GulfQuest will complement the city’s existing attractions. Within easy walking distance of the Exploreum/IMAX® and the Museum of Mobile, the Maritime Museum will help create a “critical mass” of museums in downtown Mobile.


Host City: Mobile, Alabama

Mobile provides an ideal location for GulfQuest. As one of the oldest cities in the U.S., Mobile has played a central role in world events for well over 300 years, from the first arrival of Spanish explorers, through the Civil War and World War II, to the present day.

As a city defined by maritime commerce and industry, Mobile derives more than half of its annual income from waterborne commerce. The Port of Mobile is one of the busiest on the Gulf Coast, and the 10th largest port in the nation.

In addition, Mobile plays an integral role in the marine environment of the Gulf. The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta is the second largest river delta in the U.S., providing a critical habitat for plants and animals, and filtering impurities from 20% of the nation’s fresh water. Mobile Bay is the nation’s fourth largest estuary, providing a transition between the fresh water wetlands of the Delta and the marine environment of the Gulf.