Once you step inside Oakleigh Historic Complex, there are costumed guides waiting to lead you through an intimate experience of 19th century Gulf Coast living in authentic scenery.
You will be treated to a tour of not only one but of three buildings within the Oakleigh House Museum complex and every museum interprets the aspects of daily living in mid-19th century.
These museums depict the servant, society, and working class.
  This historic complex is open to general admission everyday at 10 a.
m.
to 4 p.
m.
Oakleigh Museum is a T-shaped Greek revival mansion that shows off unique architectural features like the grand double parlors, a distinct cantilevered front staircase, classic six-over-six windows and galleries which are accessed through jib windows.
The cotton factory from Virginia is revealed all over the building.
This was inhabited for three generations by one of the leading society families of Mobile, Alabama.
Harmonizing with the Oakleigh mansion is the Cook's House on the southwest part of the property.
  The Cook's House built in 1850 and inhabited slaves who were the backbone of the Oakleigh property.
  Master craftsmen such as brick masons and carpenters lived and worked there even prior to the time of construction.
  Roper was the name of the architect and builder of this majestic work of art.
Using slave and free labor, the house was built with bricks made from clay dug on the grounds and timber harvested from the property.
Tool marks are still visible on the doors and window frames.
Roper placed his front doorway off-center for a particular reason.
He and his wife wanted to entertain lavishly at Oakleigh and he intended to create a north hallway to accommodate large double parlors to the south.
Due to an economic downturn in the cotton trade, in great tragedy, Roper lost the house.
Alfred Irwin, who came to Mobile as secretary of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad in the late 1840s, rented, and then purchased Oakleigh in 1852.
The house was handed-down to the Irwins.
The last one to own the home was Daisy Irwin Clisby, who sold the house in 1916.
The Historic Mobile archival collections include emotional letters between Mrs.
Clisby's sons detailing their efforts to cover her debts as she lived in horrid poverty are always read during tours of the home.
Today, Oakleigh House Museum is a great tourist spot in Alabama.
Generally, it boasts of great collections such as period silver, furniture, porcelain, paintings and personal items.
Among the most visited portion of the museum is the slave cabin located behind the main house.
Oh, if only those walls could talk...
the stories we would hear...
as the lives unfolded at the now famous Oakleigh House Museum.