The Battle House stands on the site of the old military headquarters set up by Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812.  The Battle House Hotel opened in 1852 and quickly become "Mobile’s Living Room." The hotel was the site of many Mardi Gras balls, presidential speeches, debutante presentations and gatherings of the area’s captains of industry.

Located one block from Mobile Bay, the Battle House has had more than its fair share of famous visitors.  On April 11, 1853 Vice President William Rufus King stayed at Battle House to rest before traveling to Cahaba, AL which was home.  He died in Cahaba just seven days later.  King was Vice President to President Franklin Pierce. A year and one half later, Senator Stephen A. Douglas stayed overnight at the Battle House.  Senator Douglas was later a candidate for President in 1860.  He lost the election to Abraham Lincoln. 

In 1913 President Woodrow Wilson, on invitation of the Governor of Alabama, came to Mobile to deliver a speech to the Southern Commercial Congress who were meeting at the Battle House.  It was the first public appearance after his election to office.  Other famous visitors included President Teddy Roosevelt, Jefferson Davis, General Beauregard, Henry Clay, Babe Ruth, General Grant, Millard Fillmore and Admiral Semmes. Even a king, Elvis Presley, stayed at the Battle House over the years. As a child, Jimmy Buffett grew up watching Mardi Gras parades in front of the hotel.