Located on the Eastern tip of the Biloxi peninsula, the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum is housed in a Spanish influence structure built in 1934 as part of a U.S. Coast Guard station. The museum was established in 1986 to preserve and interpret the maritime history and heritage of biloxi and the Mississippi gulf coast. It accomplishes this mission through an array of exhibits containing historic photographs and objects. Visitors can experience the tremendous impact of hurricanes on biloxi through an exhibit and film on hurricane Camille, which devastated the Gulf Coast in 1969. the museum has brought biloxi’s maritime history to life by replicating two full-size Biloxi schooners, which sail the Gulf waters daily.
The original Pleasant Reed House was built in Biloxi, Mississippi, during the late 1800s. Pleasant Reed, a former slave, worked as a carpenter during the post Civil War economy. Thirty years after his family was freed from slavery, he began construction of their home in Biloxi. This historic landmark was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and later reconstructed and became a part of the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art. Visitors can take a tour of the house and view original items used by the Reed family during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.
On August 17, 1969, the Mississippi Coast was devastated by Hurricane Camille. Winds exceeding 170 miles per hour destroyed buildings while 30-foot tidal waves ravaged the coast. This beautiful but somber memorial is located in front of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the church and damaged the memorial. Community and church members repaired the memorial and built a second where their church once stood. They also rebuilt the church at 1904 Popps Ferry Road. As a result, the two memorials serve as a reminder of the 172 dead or missing on the Mississippi Coast in Hurricane Camille as well as the estimated 1,833 who died in Hurricane Katrina.
The Magnolia Hotel, now home to the Mardi Gras Museum, is the oldest known hotel to exist on the Mississippi coast. It was built in 1847 by German immigrant John Hahn who owned coffeehouses in New Orleans. The museum features exhibits and memorabilia about past and present-day Mardi Gras celebrations. In this way, the museum changes its exhibits on a regular basis.
The Biloxi Fire Museum is housed in a former fire station built in 1937. It is dedicated to preserving the history of fire fighting in Biloxi and honoring the men who have died in the line of duty. The museum features photographs and antique equipment on display, including old fire pumpers and fire trucks. It is operated by volunteers and can be visited on Saturday or by appointment.
The Biloxi Lighthouse was erected in 1848 and was one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 as a prominent landmark and navigational aid. The tower was conveyed to the city in 1968 through the Historic Surplus Property program and operates as a private navigational aid. The lighthouse was damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but was restored in 2010. Reaching a height of 64 feet, it is open for guided tours depending on the weather. The Biloxi Visitor Center is located across the street. In addition to serving as a starting point for visitors, the Center also includes several multi-media exhibits that explore the history of Biloxi and a theater that shows a short movie about the city. The Center itself opened in 2011.
This marker commemorates the actions of over one hundred civil rights protesters who were attacked by a white mob on April 24, 1960. The protesters were raising attention to the exclusion of African Americans from public beaches in the South and expected to be arrested. Instead, the all-white police force watched as a white mob attacked the protesters. It was not until a court victory eight years later that the city no longer barred African American citizens from using the beach.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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Beginning with the Biloxi Beach Wade-In Historical Marker, this tour guides those wishing to admire varying historic sites in tandem with the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. With stops at the Biloxi Lighthouse and the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, this tour highlights the relationship Biloxi, Mississippi has with the sea.
