Welcome to the Carlen House, a modest yet historically rich site nestled within the bustling city of Mobile, Alabama. This historic house museum traces its roots back to 1843 when it was constructed in the Gulf Coast cottage style, a popular architectural choice in the region known for its adaptability to the warm climate and coastal conditions. Imagine the year 1843, a time when Mobile was a growing hub for the cotton trade, and the young city was rebuilding itself after a devastating fire just a few years prior. The Carlen House was home to Michael and Mary Carlen, Irish immigrants who settled here with their twelve children. Their journey across the Atlantic and settlement in Alabama is a classic tale of seeking new opportunities in the burgeoning United States.
The Carlen family operated the house as a farm, contributing to the local economy during a time when agriculture was the backbone of the Southern economy. Fast forward to 1923, and the landscape of the area began to change. The Mobile County School Board acquired a significant portion of the Carlen family’s land to establish what is now Murphy High School, integrating the house into the school’s northern edge.
While the Carlen House itself is not open to the public, it occasionally serves as an educational resource for Murphy High School students, offering them a tangible connection to their local history. In 1981, the importance of preserving such sites was recognized when the Carlen House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring its stories and structure are preserved for future generations.
The Carlen House stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the people who called it home and the evolving landscape of Mobile. From its origins as a family farm to its current role as a historical touchstone, the Carlen House embodies the dynamic history of Mobile, offering us a window into the life and times of 19th-century Alabamians.
