The site is historically significant due to its role as a company town for the Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard during the first half of the twentieth century.

Upon the purchase of the shipyard and town by Gulf Shipbuilding in 1940, the existing homes were repaired and modified.

Primarily through the efforts of Gene Ford, an architectural historian from the University of Alabama, this area was documented and data was collected about its buildings and history.

[5] The Chickasaw Historic Preservation Society has created a driving tour featuring the highlights of the area.

[3] In 1979, Halter Marine reactivated the shipbuilding facility to provide service vessels and tugboats to the booming offshore oil industry.