Catholicism has been present in Mississippi since the 17th century but it took over a hundred years for churches to be established along the Gulf Coast. The Catholic Diocese of Jackson, which encompasses most of Mississippi, wasn't founded until 1837. It was only in 1977 that the Diocese of Biloxi, which covers the southern part of the state, was established. The first church at this location was a small building erected in 1843. It is not clear what it was called, but it was used until 1869 when a hurricane damaged it so severely that another church was built in 1870. This second church was larger but it was lost in a fire that destroyed much of the downtown area in 1900. Nativity BVM was constructed two years later. The architect, Theodore Brune, was born in Germany and lived in New Orleans. He designed many buildings in Biloxi during this period. Over the coming decades, the cathedral has been repaired after hurricanes.

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Website

The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a historic Catholic church built in 1902. Often referred to as Nativity BVM, it is the parent church of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. Designed by architect Theodore Brune, the cathedral is also a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture. It features a large bell and clock tower, Gothic arches, 61 stained glass windows, a large rose window, and buttresses. It is included in the Biloxi Multiple Resource Area, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Starting with a historical marker for a unique civil rights protest, this extended walk or short drive includes landmarks from lighthouses to hurricane memorials along with art museums, historic buildings, and museums that are unique to Biloxi economy, such as the final stop, the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum. 

Biloxi Mississippi Drive Tour

A historical marker was unveiled in 2009 to honor the Biloxi Wade-Ins also known as “Bloody Sunday.” In 1960 Biloxi’s twenty-six mile Gulf of Mexico shoreline was segregated. Frustrated by the segregated shoreline, African American residents protested&nbsp;their exclusion from the public shoreline. 

There were a total of three wade-in protests. The first protest occurred on May 14, 1959,&nbsp;when nine people held a public protest with a purpose of seeing how the police would respond. The second wade-in was a solitary protest by one African American citizen, Dr. Mason. Although he was well-known and respected whites refused to allow Dr. Mason to use the beach.&nbsp;The protest commemorated by this marker and known as “Bloody Sunday” took place on Easter Sunday in 1960.&nbsp; Led by physician Gilbert Mason, the Black community sought to rectify restricted access by enacting a series of “wade-in” protests. Chaos and violence, though, quickly marred this particular demonstration. <div>Children began swimming in the ocean, while adults attempted to&nbsp;enjoy beach activities, but all were prepared for the possibility&nbsp;of arrest. Instead, a white mob attacked the beach-goers soaking the sand with the blood of peaceful protests. White mobs also began to roll through African American neighborhoods firing guns and making threats of violence.&nbsp;&nbsp; </div>

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. 

Biloxi Beach Wade-In Historical Marker (Bloody Sunday) 

The Biloxi Lighthouse, which is adjacent to the Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico, has served as a navigational aid on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for over 170 years. On March 3, 1847, the U.S. Government authorized $12,000 for the construction of a lighthouse in Biloxi, Mississippi. The U.S. Department of the Treasury signed a contract, dated October 15, 1847, to Murray &amp; Hazlehurst to build an iron lighthouse for $6,347. The construction on the lighthouse was completed in 1848. The tower is a prefabricated, cast iron structure with a balustrade encircling the watch room.The conical tower is believed to be the first lighthouse in the South to have been constructed of this material. The lantern, unlike most lighthouses of the period, is also constructed of cast iron rather than the usual copper. The lighthouse has withstood the ravages of time and hurricanes while masonry towers along the Mississippi coast have crumbled. The inside wall of the lighthouse is brick having been laid in a conical fashion to conform to the cast iron sections. Originally the illuminating apparatus designed by Winslow Lewis consisted of nine cast brass lamps and separate reflectors with a Fifth Order Fresnel lens.  Throughout the 90-year light keeper history, female keepers maintained the light for 74 of those years thus earning the distinction of having been maintained by female keepers for more years than any other lighthouse in the United States. The role of lighthouse keeper ended in 1939 when the light was automated. In 1941, the city of Biloxi acquired the Keeper’s Dwelling, which was used by the Chamber of Commerce until it was destroyed by Hurricane Camille in 1969.

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.

Biloxi Lighthouse & Visitor Center

From 1534 to 1763, France claimed la large swath of North America that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to Newfoundland, which is now a part of Canada. This territory was called <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/new-france" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New France</a> and the Louisiana Colony was one of its districts. In order to solidify its hold in the region, France made a large-scale attempt at settling Europeans in the colony in the early 1720s. Thousands from France, Switzerland, and Germany made the journey across the Atlantic during this period (African slaves were brought as well). At the time, Biloxi (it was called New Biloxi at the time), was not really a settled community since it was a temporary staging area. As a result, many settlers died from disease and malnutrition as they waited to be relocated. The individuals who were buried in the Moran Site were among the hundreds who died here.Moran Site had long been known to be a burial ground before Hurricane Katrina. Human remains were first discovered in 1914 but who they belonged to were not determined until 1969 when Hurricane Camille revealed more remains. Archaeological excavations uncovered 12 burials. The excavations conducted after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 found 20 more. Two of this group were buried in coffins while the rest were wrapped in shrouds. The relatively short stature of the individuals (an average of 5'4" for the males and 5'0" for the females) and other health indicators point periods of stunted growth during childhood. These signs suggest that these individuals came from lower class populations in Europe. The exact causes of death of these individuals died is unknown. They died before skeletal lesions caused by the effects of starvation or disease could form on on their bones. In terms of artifacts, few were uncovered. These included a crucifix, two shell buttons, and three shroud pins. Archaeologists believe this indicates that the other belongings of these individuals were given to others.It appears that the Moran family started living and working at the site in 1952. The father, Joe Moran, was the grandson of George Ohr, who is considered to be the "Father of American pottery" (the <a href="https://georgeohr.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ohr-O'keefe Museum of Art </a>here in Biloxi is co-named after him). The <a href="http://moransart.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moran Art Studio </a>was moved to Ocean Springs after Hurricane Katrina. Before the studio was destroyed, some skeletal remains were visible to the public through a plexiglass window inside the studio. The memorial garden was dedicated in 2017.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Moran Art Studio that stood on top of an important historical site, which is now a memorial garden. Called the Moran Site after the studio, it is the second oldest known French Colonial cemetery in the country. The site dates back to the early 1720s. At that time, the Biloxi area was a staging ground from which Europeans (and African slaves) would be relocated inland in an effort to settle what was then part of the French Louisiana Colony. In total, around 32 individuals were discovered here. Most of them were male and all of them were probably from Europe. The site is next to the Biloxi Visitor Center and features interpretive panels, historical markers, and a statue depicting a weeping angel in the center. It appears that the individuals were reburied here in 2013.

Moran Site

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. 

Biloxi Fire Museum

The park was designed by architect Dale Partners and construction began on January 23, 2014, with general constructor W.G. Yates and Sons and structural engineer Joe DeReuil Associates LLC. The total cost of construction was 36 million dollars.

MGM Park opened as Caillavet Park on June 6, 2015 and is the home of the Biloxi Shuckers with a seating capacity of 6,076. The Biloxi Shuckers were founded in 1978 as the Nashville Sounds. The team then relocated and started playing as the Huntsville Stars until 2014 when they became the Biloxi Shuckers, a Double-A team affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers. The first game played was Biloxi Shuckers vs Mobile BayBears with the Shuckers winning 5-4.

MGM Park 

Before the Saenger brothers got into the theater business they operated the family drug store in Shreveport, Louisiana. They built their first theater (The Saenger) in New Orleans in 1911 and established the Saenger Amusement Company the next year. Initially, the theater hosted vaudeville acts but after a year the brothers started showing short movies as well. In the coming years, the company grew steadily. The brothers built theaters in neighboring states and bought a competitor called the Fichtenberg Amusement Company. Over time, the company grew to over 300 theaters and expanded abroad.The Saenger Theatre in Biloxi was designed by architect Roy A. Benjamin. When it opened, it could seat 1,500 seats (one source states 1,245 seats) and apparently had excellent acoustics. Other notable features included three levels of dressing rooms and a backstage electric control panel. In addition to films, the theater hosted traveling shows and vaudeville acts. Eventually, films became the dominant form of entertainment at the theater. This continued until 1974 when a fire forced it to close. The city acquired the building the next year and began to renovate it. It became a contributing property of the Biloxi Multiple Resource Area, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The theater sign was installed in 2001 and is a duplicate of the original. Over the years, the theater has hosted a variety of concerts, performances, and community events.

Built in 1929, Saenger Theatre is a historic entertainment venue in downtown Biloxi. It was erected by brothers Julian and Abraham Saenger, who were based in New Orleans and operated a large chain of theaters in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Panama and Cuba. In terms of architecture, the theater was designed in the Classical Revival style. The main facade of the building features four stone Ionic pilasters (columns) supporting a stone entablature, decorative brickwork, four stone urns, and the large theater sign. As of early 2021, the theater appears to be closed for renovation. 

Saenger Theatre

Unfortunately, John died in 1848 but his wife kept the business going for many years. Over time Biloxi became known as a good place for vacation and as a result tourism was an important economic driver for the city, which remains to this day. The hotel stayed in the family until the end of&nbsp;WWII. It was badly damaged during a hurricane in 1969. Recognizing its historical value, the city bought the building, moved it 100 yards away from the coast, and renovated it. The museum opened in 2013.&nbsp;

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. 

Magnolia Hotel (Mardi Gras Museum)

Charles Redding was born in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, which is west of Gulfport, some time in the mid-19th century. He arrived in Biloxi after the Civil War and as an adult established a successful ship supply business. Before he built the house in 1908, he was on the lookout for a property to build a new home. He apparently wanted to buy property on the waterfront but his wife objected, fearing that the house would be destroyed by a hurricane. They agreed on this location, believing it was safer.In recent times, the house was a popular wedding and event venue and was restored after Hurricane Katrina. Inside, the house boasts nine fireplaces, three bedrooms and bathrooms, two stairways, stained glass windows, crystal chandeliers, and hand-painted murals. The Redding family owned the house until 1998. It is a contributing property of the Biloxi Multiple Resource Area, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Redding House is one of the most striking and historic homes not only in Biloxi but the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well. It is also the last remaining mansion in the downtown area. The house was built by wealthy businessman Charles Redding in 1908 and is a fine example of the Classical Revival style. Notable features of the 2.5-story house include wrap around porches with rounded-corner extensions, Corinthian columns, a single-story portico above the main entrance, and a pedimented dormer with a palladian window. The house is vacant as of early 2021. 

Redding House

The predecessor to the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, the Commercial Club, spearheaded the effort to convince the federal government to build a U.S. Post Office, Court House, and Custom House in Biloxi. Its efforts paid off. In February 1902 the Club received a letter from a Congressman confirming that the project was moving forward. However, it took until 1905 for the construction to start and various problems (supply issues, hurricanes, poor subcontractors, and a yellow fever epidemic) delayed its completion until August 1908. The building was well constructed using a steel and brick. The marble facade, which weighs 1,200 tons, is attached to the brick walls with iron clamps. The federal government planned to demolish the building in the 1950s when it built a new facility. However, the city and the federal government made a deal to save the old building. The city agreed to donate land for the new facility in exchange for the federal building, which became City Hall. Hurricanes didn't damage it until 1985 when the roof was destroyed. Hurricane Katrina damaged the roof again and the water level reached the top of the steps. The building was refurbished in 2010. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Constructed in 1908 and originally operated as a federal building, City Hall is one of the more impressive landmarks in Biloxi. In terms of design, it is a monumental and excellent example of Neoclassical architecture. It features a striking facade of gray Italian marble, a loggia (a covered walkway) with arches that support a large portico with Corinthian and square columns, full-length windows on the second floor with pediments, circular windows with keystones, and palladian windows. The building became City Hall in 1960.

City Hall

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. 

Hurricane Camille Memorial

Pleasant Reed was born into slavery in 1854. At the age of eleven, his family was freed from slavery and moved away from their plantation in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. While living in Biloxi, Mississippi, Pleasant met his wife, Georgia, in 1884 and began their own family. After the birth of their first child, Pleasant began working as a carpenter to provide for his family while Georgia worked domestic jobs with local families.&nbsp; In 1887, Pleasant Reed &nbsp;pursued a land contract with a local developer and merchant by the name of Jacob Elmer. Jacob was the developer of Elmer Street in Biloxi, where Pleasant purchased a lot measuring 50' by 104'. After signing his contract, Reed began purchasing lumber from local businesses and began the construction of their house through the knowledge he obtained &nbsp;as carpenter.&nbsp; The construction of the house was finished before the land was paid off, which Pleasant and Jacob Elmer came to an agreement to exchange labor for payment. During this time, Elmer Street was developing as an ethnically diverse street as Mr. Elmer sold land to families of different races and backgrounds. Over the next 91 years, this was the home of the Reed family. In all, six children were born to Pleasant and Georgia and grew up on Elmer Street in Biloxi.&nbsp; Georgia passed in 1933 and her husband followed her in 1936. Therese Reed, one of the daughters of the couple, transferred ownership of the house to Delta Sigma Sorority in 1979. The sorority added rooms to the house as well as a new tin roof and kept this historic site from demolition. In 2000, the sorority donated this house to the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art&nbsp;and it was moved from Elmer Street to the site of the museum in 2002.&nbsp; In 2005, the Pleasant Reed House was demolished during Hurricane Katrina. The following year, the board voted to replicate the house and name it the&nbsp;Pleasant Reed Interpretive Center to further the memorial of the Reed family and provide knowledge of how one man&nbsp;overcame slavery and became one of few former slaves to build a strong future for his family.&nbsp;

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. 

The Pleasant Reed House 

George Ohr (1857-1918) the
self-proclaimed “Mad Potter of Biloxi” created a body of ceramic work which
defied the aesthetic conventions of 19th century America. Ohr is considered an
early leader in the modernist movement and it is his creative spirit which
informs the mission of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum. His extraordinary cultural
legacy is recognized for its power and integrity and for its important influence
on 20th and 21st century art. Ohr’s work was rediscovered in the 1960s and is
admired by artists and collectors alike. 

The design process took four years:
1999-2003. In 2004, construction began. August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina
heavily damaged or destroyed the buildings which were 18 months from
completion. Rebuilding began in 2008 and Phase I of the campus opened November
2010. Three of the five Gehry designed buildings and two historical structures opened
to the public including: Mississippi Sound Welcome Center, IP Casino Resort Spa
Exhibitions Gallery, Gallery of African American Art, Pleasant Reed
Interpretive Center and the Creel House. 

Ten years in the making, the
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art celebrates the innovative, independent and creative
spirit of its namesake, Mississippi master potter George Ohr. Just as Ohr
(1857-1918) rose from devastating personal and professional loss to create an
extraordinary body of work, so too the Ohr-O’Keefe has risen from Hurricane
Katrina’s destruction. They view this process as an homage to the enduring
human spirit.

Phase II opened in 2012 and includes
the City of Biloxi Center for Ceramics which house the residential ceramic
studio, meeting space, and administrative offices. The first section of the
John S. and James L. Knight Gallery (the “Pods”) which will house the permanent
George Ohr exhibition opened in 2014.

The museum’s mission is to promote
and preserve the unique legacy of Biloxi potter George E. Ohr and the diverse
cultural heritage of the Mississippi Gulf Coast; and to exhibit works which
exemplify the independent, innovative, and creative spirit of George Ohr,
emancipated craftsman Pleasant Reed, and Ohr-O’Keefe Museum architect Frank
Gehry. This mission is served through compelling exhibitions and educational
experiences viewed from a fresh perspective relevant to our community, the
region, and the nation with a strong focus on ceramic arts.

Designed by architect Frank O. Gehry and partnews, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is located on a four-acre campus in Biloxi, Mississippi. Set within a grove of ancient Live Oak trees, Gehry designed the Ohr-O’Keefe project as a series of six small pavilions woven among the trees and connected by an open brick plaza, creating an inviting and lively arts campus that maintains the existing park setting and encourages pedestrian circulation throughout the site. The entire project employs a micro-pile foundation system intended to minimize impact on the root systems of the Live Oak trees. The use of local materials, the use of references to the local vernacular, and the scale and placement of each of the pavilions on the site, represent sensitive responses to the conditions of the site and to the context of the surrounding area. The 25,000-square-foot Ohr-O’Keefe Museum campus provides facilities for art exhibition and education, and cultural and community events.  

Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art

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.

Biloxi Mississippi Drive Tour

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information