Mardi Gras Museum Keeps Party Going

This is where the kings, queens and other big wigs from Mardi Gras past come home to rest. The two story museum houses more than 65 costumes and a lot more memories for Mobile's once a year extravaganza.

“Every town has a once a year day, maybe a county fair or something like that,” says museum curator Edward Ladd. “Mobile's once a year day goes on for two weeks of once a year days.” Every so often, new items are brought in. This juvenile king outfit was worn in 1930. It's the oldest complete piece on display--the gold's faded and some of the colors are wearing out, but museum officials are glad to get spectacular donations like this.

“And they found it in an attic and they very kindly brought it to us last spring and it's on display,” says Ladd. “It's in immaculate condition as well preserved as it is.” Some displays are rotated. In the Gordon Tatum gallery they're showing off Mardi Gras queen outfits from 50 and 25 years ago. Ladd says they're always on the lookout for more carnival themed items to put on display. He's says they're looking for rare pieces.

“But mainly we're looking for the very extraordinary costumes is what we're looking for and kings and queens outfits mainly,” says Ladd. Some of the more recent donations include a folly costume. Complete with pig bladders, it's on loan from the museum of mobile down the street. King and queen outfits were from last year's Mardi Gras--they'll soon be replaced by this year's extravagant costumes--in the hopes that many will be preserved here.

“Cause this stuff had been under people's beds,” says Ladd. “In closets and everywhere and we finally displayed it because no one's getting to see it all.”