Beachy Beautiful Biloxi

Les on a Shoo-fly

Biloxi is our first look at the Gulf of Mexico and are we happy to be here for this short visit.The weather is a cool and breezy 75 degrees.The smell of the ocean is everywhere (the good smell – not the fishy smell).First off we were taken by the miles and miles of beautiful beaches from Biloxi to Gulfport (26 miles long 300 feet wide).Later we found out that this is a man made and man maintained beach. Every 8 to ten years (that is if there is no hurricane intervention) the Corp of Engineers scoops up bunches of ocean sand, they bring it to shore to dry, and then they spread it.The beach is held in place by a very useful stair step retaining wall.There are many fishing piers along the way and all seem to be its own social club. Our first stop was to the Welcome Center.This is new construction across from the Light House.It is chocked full of literature, area movies and a museum.We picked up a map for a driving tour and it led us to everything Biloxi

Oak tree art

The Katrina Memorial by it height shows us the water level of the storm.It is simple in construction and holds a memento chamber of recovered items.Biloxi was known for it old oak trees along the beach.That bitch Katrina killed many of these.This destruction leant itself to a new park. The dead oaks were sculpted (by Dayton Scoggins) into ocean life statues.They have become stars and it really makes the survivors stand out.

Katrina Memorial

Biloxi Lighthouse

Biloxi Welcome center

We are cemetery fans. There are two really historical stops here.The Biloxi National Cemetery(Military and Families) and Old Biloxi Cemetery which dates back to 1700s.One is dress right dress and the other has the rambling haphazard design that has gone a little schizophrenic over the centuries. Both are beautiful in there own way and give you cause to take your time.

Old Biloxi Cemetery

National Cemetery

Beauvoir is the last home of Jefferson Davis, the only president of the Confederate States of America (personally, I didn’t know they had one {yeah, his name was probably A,B,C,or D on a test somewhere}) .The house is amazing.It has recently gone through a major renovation as again the bitch Katrina messed it up.The welcome center is still operating out of a FEMA trailer and the Jefferson Davis Presidential museum is currently being built.Beauvoir (French for beautiful view {or so I have been told}) was built from 1852 to 1854 by James Brown ( no not him).This is Georgian style with two U shaped Galleries ( i.e. porches).Over the years the home was auctioned off, sold, and then sold again to the Davis’ after they had been renters on the property.The Davis’ were broke and after Jeffersons death Mrs. Davis and daughter Winnie moved to New York.The property was taken over by a caretaker and became a home for confederate veterans and widows.It stayed a veteran’s home for 54 years until the last resident kicked off.Now it is a museum.This house has such a cool history.I haven’t even mention all the other hurricanes this place has gone through. Side note – Thanks to the shutters all of the windows are original. Great pains have been taken to insure that the paint, fabrics and furnishing maintain the original.The rooms all open to the “galleries” to take advantage of the gulf breeze.The dining room and the Davis’ bedrooms are not even accessible with out walking on a gallery.

Beauvoir and Guest Cottage

Beauvoir

The view

Entry Room

Beauvoir after Katrina

Lighted makeup mirror

Back Galley with shutters

Foundation

Future Presidential Library

Beauvoir Welcome center.  No idea when the new one will be started or finished

Items recoverd from the Beauvoir

There are many casinos around. Not our deal, but they are big beautiful and the Isle has a really nice buffet (military half price).

As you drive around you will see many foundations without buildings. The recovery is well underway and all you see is a city ready to get the show going.

3 NOV 2011