13 Things about Biloxi
- The Biloxi Lighthouse was one of three Mississippi Sound Lighthouses authorized in 1847 by legislation sponsored by Mississippi Representative Jefferson Davis. Metal plates, cast by Murray and Hazlehurst Vulcan Works in Baltimore, were bolted together to form a metal wrapper around a brick liner. The tower was completed in the spring of 1848 and Marcellus J. Howard was assigned as the first keeper. Part of his job was to service the lamps and nine small reflectors that comprised the lighting apparatus. Later, the light would be upgraded to fourteen, 21.5-inch reflectors. The Biloxi Lighthouse survived Hurricane Katrina.
- Beauvoir was the last home of Jefferson Davis, who died in 1889. From here, he completed the two volume history of The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government. Beauvoir House and the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library suffered heavy damage from Hurricane Katrina.
- The Beauvoir Cemetery contains over 700 Confederate veterans and spouses, including the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier.
- Mary Mahoney's survived Hurricane Katrina. Click on the link to read about Mary Mahoney's fascinating history.
- George Ohr (aka The Mad Potter of Biloxi ) was born in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1857.
- An area across Biloxi Bay from the city, called Old Biloxi, was first visited by French explorer Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville in 1699.
- The word Biloxi means "First People" and was the name of a local Native American tribe met by d'Iberville and his men when they explored the land.
- During the 1820s Biloxi became a popular summer resort for New Orleanians wishing to escape their city's heat and yellow fever epidemics. Biloxi was incorporated officially in 1838.
- Mullet fish, called "Biloxi bacon," saved the local populace from starvation in the Civil War years. The first fish cannery opened in 1881, and the city's seafood industry quickly developed. By 1900 Biloxi was termed the "seafood capital of the world."
- Biloxi is home to Barq’s Root Beer. This factory was founded by Edward Adoph Barq, Sr. in 1898.
- Biloxi, Mississippi is also the location of Keesler Air Force Base.
- Built in 1856 as a wedding present for Matilde Pradat by her husband Christoval Toledano, Tullis-Toledano Manor was a striking example of Greek Revival architecture. Alasandra and sons were able to take part in an archaeological dig here before Katrina. Hurricane Katrina deposited the Grand Casino Biloxi barge atop the manor site.
- White House Hotel - Biloxi, Mississippi. In 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Walter White opened their residence overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. By 1910, the White House Hotel and its expanded grounds were a popular Biloxi beach resort offering golfing, motoring, relaxing, fishing, tennis, and boating.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment