Restoration of the Commemorative Welsh Prince Madog Plaque to Mobile Bay

We the undersigned are petitioning the Alabama Parks Department to return the commemorative plaque for the Welsh Prince Madoc (Madog) to the original spot on Mobile Bay. The plaque was erected in 1953 by the Daughters of the American Revolution commemorating the theory that a Welsh prince and his followers were the first Europeans to set foot on the North American continent. The plaque reads In memory of Prince Madog, a Welsh explorer, who landed on the shores of Mobile Bay in 1170 and left behind, with the Indians, the Welsh language. Plaques have been erected at the ancient port of Aber-Kerrik at Rhos-on-Sea in North Wales where Prince Madog was to have departed on his expedition. Shouldn't there be one where he was to have landed?

No real reason has been given for the removal of the plaque other than Interpretation at Fort Morgan focuses on the United States military presence on Mobile Point from the early 1800s through the end of World War II. by Site Director at Fort Morgan. We don't believe that having the plaque in the vicinity of the fort can interfere with the fort's mission as a historical site.

Our demand that the plaque be taken out of storage and returned to its original place is not unreasonable. The plaque itself is a piece of history and of interest to students of this story, which has not been disproved and may someday be proven. The plaque is of interest to anyone interested in the story of Prince Madoc, particularly those Americans of Welsh descent, of which there are millions today, and they would want to see the plaque which would be hard to do with it in storage.

We strongly urge the Alabama Parks Department to restore the plaque to its original position and to stop the apparent prejudice against Prince Madoc and the Welsh.