Dauphin Island, Alabama, Sunset Coffee Mug

"Dauphin Island, Alabama, Sunset" by Catherine Sherman. Clouds streak across the setting sun on Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island was named sunset capital of Alabama by its town council with the support of the Alabama Tourism Department, and now it has trademarked the description. Sunrises on the island are spectacular, too! In addition to its sunsets and sunrises, Dauphin Island, on the Gulf of Mexico, is known for its white sand beaches. The island sits at the entrance to Mobile Bay, where the prominently positioned 19th-century Fort Gaines features original cannons and a look at the living quarters and working areas of this historic fortification. The Audubon Bird Sanctuary on the island is a refuge to wildlife year-round, including alligators and turtles in the lakes, and is an important stop for migrating birds. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Estuarium offers aquariums and a living marsh boardwalk. Ferry services takes travelers across the mouth of Mobile Bay from a port on the east end of Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan on the east side of the bay. Pelican Point on the east end of the island provides an excellent view of the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Pass and is a great location to view sunsets and sunrises. Dolphins can be seen in the water off the beach, as well as many seabirds, including pelicans, terns, cormorants and gulls.