The island's French history began on January 31, 1699, when the explorer Pierre Le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville, one of the founders of French Louisiana, arrived at Mobile Bay and anchored near the island on his way to explore the mouth of the Mississippi River. D'Iberville mistakenly named it Île du Massacre (Massacre Island) because of a large pile of human skeletons discovered there. In reality, the site was a Mississippian burial mound which had been broken open by a hurricane, not a massacre site; however, the dramatic misnomer stuck.
the island's french history began on january 31 1699 when the explorer pierre le moyne sieur d'iberville one of the founders of french louisiana arrived at mobile bay and anchored near the island on his way to explore the mouth of the mississippi river d'iberville mistakenly named it île du massacre (massacre island) because of a large pile of human skeletons discovered there in reality the site was a mississippian burial mound which had been broken open by a hurricane not a massacre site; however the dramatic misnomer stuck