Spanish Fort in Baldwin County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Bay of the Holy Spirit

Photographed By Mark Hilton, January 14, 2017

1. Bay of the Holy Spirit Marker

Inscription. The earliest outline of a recognizable bay on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico was shown on a 1507 map by German cartographer Martin Waldeseemuller–the same map to first apply the name "America" to the New World.

Alonso Álvarez de Pineda, during a 1519 Spanish expedition seeking a water passage to the Orient through the Gulf, described this harbor and gave it the name Bahía del Espíritu Santo. Successive Spanish explorers sought this "Holy Grail" along the Gulf Coast, failing until a 1693 expedition concluded that what is now called Mobile Bay was the fabled Bay of the Holy Spirit.

Erected 2008 by the Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1507.

Location. 30° 40.63′ N, 87° 59.059′ W. Marker is in Spanish Fort, Alabama, in Baldwin County. Marker is on Battleship Parkway (U.S. 98) near Interstate 10, on the right when traveling east. Located at the end of the westbound I-10, Exit 30 off-ramp. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Battleship Parkway, Spanish Fort AL 36527, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this

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marker, measured as the crow flies. Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Five Crommelin Brothers of Alabama (approx. 1.8 miles away); M42 Duster (approx. 1.8 miles away); United States Ship Alabama (BB-60) (approx. 1.8 miles away); M26 Pershing (approx. 1.8 miles away); M60A1 (approx. 1.8 miles away); Tristan de Luna y Arellano (approx. 1.9 miles away); 6-Pounder Saluting Gun (approx. 1.9 miles away).

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on Martin Waldseemüller. (Submitted on January 14, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Bay of the Holy Spirit Marker with Interstate 10 westbound off ramp in background. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, January 14, 2017

2. Bay of the Holy Spirit Marker with Interstate 10 westbound off ramp in background.

Marker is same on reverse side however you might need a boat to see it.

The view east on U.S. Highway 98 (Battleship Parkway). image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, January 14, 2017

3. The view east on U.S. Highway 98 (Battleship Parkway).

Part of the Eastern Shore Trail (See trail map in separate photo).

<i>Universalis Cosmographia, </i>Waldseemüller's 1507 world map. image. Click for full size.

Public Domain US-PD

4. Universalis Cosmographia, Waldseemüller's 1507 world map.

Waldseemüller map from 1507 is the first map to include the name "America" and the first to depict the Americas as separate from Asia. There is only one surviving copy of the map, which was purchased by the Library of Congress in 2001 for $10 million.

Eastern Shore Trail Map by the Baldwin County Trailblazers. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, January 14, 2017

5. Eastern Shore Trail Map by the Baldwin County Trailblazers.

Map located on kiosk nearby this marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 3,078 times since then and 395 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 14, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.