Mardi Gras History Timeline
1699 ------ Pierre Le Moyne', declares his camp "Pointe du Mardi Gras", (Mardi Gras Point), as Alabama's first European settler's entered the Mississippi/Alabama/Louisiana Delta Gulf Coast Region. This is considered the first celebration of Mardi Gras in the U.S.
1700 ----- Talks breakdown between the native Indians and the colony of Mobile. War is declared by both sides. Several small skirmishes ensue with no clear winner. French Troops are brought in to put down the Indian uprising. It would take 8 years. The French colonists, writing about their longing for home, now begin to celebrate Mardi Gras with feasting and group singing.
1702 ---- In January 6, 1702, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville established a French fort and settlement called Mobile, at Twenty-seven Mile Bluff which served as the capital of the French colony of Louisiana for almost a decade, until its abandonment in 1711.
1704 ----- Mobile is formally made the capital of the French province of Louisiana. Masque De La Mobile celebrated until 1709. Societé de Saint Louise was founded by French soldiers at Fort Louis de la Mobile. Mardi Gras begins to become the holiday for French colonists to remember their homeland roots!
1708 ----- French troops now begin to win battle after battle with the Indians. Most Indians at this point have simply moved inland and far away from the settlement at Mobile. Most of the Indian nations have had enough.
1710 -----The Society' de Saint Louis, held their first "bouef gras" (fatted ox) celebration on Tuesday. This was the beginning of the Boeuf Graf Society which was formed that year in Mobile.
1711 -----Native Indians first taken as slaves to exploit the cheap source of labor to clear the area to be used as a port. Some were Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Blackfoot. Boeuf Graf Society holds its first parade. Some are placed on ships, others are used to clear more property to enlarge the fort of Mobile.
1715 -----Louis Juchereau de St. Denis establishes Fort St. Jean Baptiste (Natchitoches), first permanent settlement in the Mississippi Valley
1717 ---- Fort Toulouse on the Coosa River constructed to trade with the Indians and offset influence of British; farthest eastward penetration of the French.
1718 ------Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne', Pierre's brother, founds the port colony of Nouvelle Orle'ans, (New Orleans). Indians slaves are among the thieves, cut throats, prostitutes, beggars that are the first settlers. The St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans is built, the oldest in the United States.
1720 -----French Louisiana capital moved from Mobile west to Biloxi; then to New Orleans (1722).
1723 ------ New Orleans becomes the capital of Louisiana, superseding Biloxi.
1724 -----French Code Noir extended from French West Indies to North American colonies, institutionalizing slavery in Mobile area.
1793 ----Mobile hosts a parade on "Twelfth Night", by the Spanish Mystics. These parades are orderly, and well organized as compared to the mere "gatherings" in New Orleans, which was rough, with no organized activities. People simply celebrated as individuals which was the best way for themselves.
1835 ---------Newspaper reports of Cowbellion de' Rankin Society parading through the streets of New Orleans. This may have been the first parade in New Orleans. It is certainly the earliest reference that is in written form.
1839 ----- There are few buildings in the city built earlier than 1820. Most of the colonial architecture of the French, Spanish and British periods was lost in the Great Fire of 1839, which left the entire inner city in ruin. Among the casualties was the massive Greek revival Government Street Hotel, above right, that was nearing completion and set to be the second largest hotel in the South.
1840 -------Antoine's in New Orleans, the state's oldest continuously operating restaurant, is established. In 1840, the "Cowbellions" presented their first tableau pageant. They present it for the first time based on mythological themes with floats, bands and horses. It is the first time a theme is used as a guide to the set up, and decoration of a New Year pageant.
1842 ----------A group of young upstarts branches out to form the Strikers Independent Society, Mobile's second Mystic Organization.
1852 -----The Cowbellions staged their first ball. As other mystic societies form, the Carnival season is gradually expanded from only New Year’s parades, to include Mardi Gras parades. Company of Bedouins present a spectacular parade on horseback receiving acclaim.
1855 ------Because of the violent antics of a few maskers, a New Orleans Creole newspaper, The Bee, proclaims Mardi Gras Dead.
1856 ----A group of Mobilians who had moved to New Orleans organized their own New Orleans Cowbellions, the first parading society in New Orleans, which, unlike the Cowbellions, parade on Mardi Gras.
1857 -----A group of the Cowbellions, and Strikers, help 13 New Orleanians form the Krewe of Comus, who coins the word, for the first time, "Krewe". They are also first Krewe to; (1) choose a mythological namesake, (2) present a theme parade, (3) first to use floats in a Carnival parade, (4) and follow it with a Tableau Ball.
1865 ----------The Cowbellions hold their last parade.
1866 ---------- Joe Cain appears as Slacabamorinico, chief of the Chickasaw from Wragg Swamp. He rides a coal wagon, through the streets on Shrove Tuesday. 1866 was the beginning of the modern era of Mardi Gras in Mobile. Beginning with daytime activities on Fat Tuesday, the carnival season in Mobile has grown through the years.
1867 ------The chief makes his second appearance, but this time he is accompanied by the lost cause Minstrels, 16 former confederate solders playing drums and horns. The Order of the Myths parade on Fat Tuesday.
1868 -----Reconstruction Constitution is ratified (February) gaining Alabama readmission to the Union, and allowing black suffrage for the first time. The Infant Mystics begin to parade in Mobile.
1872 ------ The De Leon Carnival Association crowns Daniel E. Huger as King Felix I. MCA begins to be organized as a Carnival Association. Other firsts are the Carnival colors, song, and flag in New Orleans, which Mobile will soon adopt.
1875 ------Governor Warmoth, considered a carpetbagger, and the first black lieutenant, Governor Pinchback, sign into law the Mardi Gras Act, making it a legal holiday in Louisiana. But political and racial unrest cancels most of the season. Louisiana is still the only state, where Mardi Gras is a legal holiday.
1883 ----- Mobile's renowned Excelsior Band is formed and begins to follow Slacabamorinico (Old Slac for short) on his annual processions. A tradition that will continue for the next 118 years. The band is forced to discontinue the trek after raising costs and lower funds take their toll.
1884 ------ The Comic Cowboys, a satirical society, presents its first parade.
1890 ------- The first women's Mystic Society "Mobile Women Mystics", holds its first Mardi Gras Ball.
1892 ------- Rex parade Symbolism of Colors, proclaims the Carnival colors of purple, gold and green to mean justice, power, and faith, respectively.
1893 ------- Mobile's first electric streetcar begins operation. Ethel Hodgson rules as the first queen of the Mobilian Carnival.
1894 ------- The Order of the Doves, Mobiles first black Carnival society holds its first Ball.
1898 ------ The second Carnival Association crowns King Felix II.
1899 ------- Coldest Mardi Gras on record, temperatures dips to 7 degrees, as Rex parades with a frozen mustache. The Krewe of Proteus postpones their parade, until the first Friday in lent, a never to be repeated mistake.
1909 ----- The Tramps Social Aid & Pleasure Club is founded in New Orleans. They parade in the back streets of New Orleans, as it is illegal to use the main thoroughfares to parade for a black Krewe. This group is important in Mobile's history as it will give rise to the Zulu SA&PC.
1916 -------- Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Inc., in New Orleans rolls for the first time under its present club name.
1917-1918 ------- World War I cancels most all Mardi Gras activities. A few balls are still held. The 15 Funny Fellows parade on Fat Tuesday.
1918 -------- World War I forces Krewes to cancel Carnival for the next two years.
1921 ----- The Crewe of Columbus begin to roll on its annual trek. The Crewe is one of a handful of the Mobile societies to keep the original spelling of the word "Crewe", instead of the now adopted misspelling started by the "Krewe of Comus" in New Orleans.
1923 ------------The Mystic Club debuts. Mobile Fire Department
retires last Horse-Drawn Apparatus.
1927-present ------ The Mobile Carnival Association (MCA) crowns King Felix III.
1931 ----- "The Mystic Krewe", by Perry Young is published. By some in the carnival circles, it is considered the bible of research on Mardi Gras at the time.
1938 ------ A. S. May founds the Knights of May Zulu Club, an African-American parading organization.
1939 ------ The Colored Carnival Association chooses a King and Queen and elects a "Mayor" of the Colored Mobile. This Organization would later become MAMGA (Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association) and the Mayor position would be placed by the "Grand Marshal."
1940 ----- The Mystic Stripers Society begins to parade. The Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (MAMGA) crowns King Elexis I.
1942 ------- World War II cancels most of Carnival. No parades roll, but some celebrations are held. This continues until 1945, the end of the conflict.
1948 ----- Mystics of Time burst onto the parade scene.
1949 ------ For the first time a women's organization, the Polka Dots, parades in Mobile. The Maids of Mirth are founded.
1962 ----- Le Krewe de Bienville is founded to offer tourists the chance to attend Mardi Gras.
1965 ----- A Mobile, Alabama citizen, Robert G. Cox, aids neighborhood children to decorate a single red wagon. The group then parades through the streets of that central city neighborhood. This is the beginning of the Mystics of Children.
1967 -----The grave of Joe Cain (1832-1904) is moved from Bayou La Batre, Alabama to the Church Street Graveyard in downtown Mobile. Many organizations begin to use the New Mobile Civic Center for their balls.
1968 ------ Joe Cain Day is established as an all inclusive street celebration.
1973 ------- The new Expo Hall at the Civic Center is now the site of some Mardi Gras activities.
1975 ------ Mobile Fire Department establishes Paramedic Services. The Order of Pi is formed with little fanfare.
1977 ----- Conde Cavaliers begin their annual parade.
1983 ------ The first emblem cups are thrown by the Order of Inca.
1985 -----The City of Mobile purchases the first set of barricades for the parade route
s. 250 sections are purchased, 2,000 feet total, at $67.50 each.
1985 ----- Neptune's Daughters and the Society of the Pharaohs begin to parade.
1986 ---Snappy-Poppers are banned.
1987 ---In the midst of great religious debate over Mardi Gras' evil influence on Mobile Christians, the Catholic church openly supports Mardi Gras by stating, "...it may be tinged with excesses, but for the most part it doesn't conflict with catholic teachings and is just good wholesome family fun." The Mobile City Council officially adopts a Mardi Gras Flag for Mobile. The flag bears the colors of purple and gold, with a serpentine "M" floating over a traditional mask.
1989 ---The Mystic Stripers Society throw coloring books that depict the emblem, the parade theme, and each of the 15 floats.
1989 ----- The Order of LaShe's begins to hold their annual Ball. Founded in the tradition of the city of New York, this society seeks to bring some of New York's fashion and style to Mobile.
1990 ----- State population=4,040,587.
1992 ----- Tillman’s tricksters begin their annual parade schedule.
1992 ----This is the last year of the use of Alabama National Guard trucks to pull parade floats. A regulation was discovered that prohibits Guard equipment use for such an event.
1993 ----The first Mobile International Carnival Ball is held. The ball signifies a ceremonial coming together of King Felix III and King Elexis I. The City of Mobile Convention Center opens. The International Carnival Ball is organized as a joint effort including both the Mobile Carnival Association and the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association. The Mobile Mystics Mardi Gras organization was founded in May of 1993 with hopes of having a Mardi Gras parade in the 1994 Mardi Gras season. The charter membership was comprised of 52 members who quickly obtained use of Mardi Gras floats from another organization and made plans to stage their first parade.
1994 ----Silly String is banned from downtown Mobile. MAMGA's Mammoth parade route is changed from the traditional Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. route to a typical downtown parade route. This change stirred up a community outcry and protest. Petitions were signed, among other things, to stop the change, but they failed. First parade of the Order of Mystic Magnolia.
1996 ---$115.00 fines are enacted for jumping or climbing over parade route barricades.
1996 ---Parade season attendance surpasses the 1 million plateau, estimated at 1,054,300 by the Mobile Police Dept.
1997 ----Mardi Gras Archive is created, the first significant Mobile Mardi Gras website on the Internet.
1997 ----- Mobile Mystical Ladies is established. The Knights of Mobile take to the streets.
1999 ------ Les Femmes Cassette, otherwise known as the Cassette girls, began their parade schedule.
1999 ----The return of the orange Mardi Gras pies!
2000 ----- The Order of Venus and Mobile Married Mystics make their debut on the parade scene. Founded for married couples by married couples, it is the only such club in which marriage is required before you can be seen.
2001 ----- Mullet Mates begin parading.
2002 ----Tricentennial of the establishment of Ft. Louis de la Mobile on Jan. 22, 1702 at 27 mile bluff and the founding of the City of Mobile by Pierre Le Moyne and Jean Baptiste Le Moyne.
2003 -------Mardi Gras Digest begins coverage of Mobile's Carnival.
Information courtesy of Mardi Gras Digest®. www.mardigrasdigest.com
