Take a road trip across the Mississippi Coast and visit these 9 historic spots

Allen Frazier
·5 min read

Whether you’re a local to South Mississippi or a visitor, there’s so much hidden history to see, from Bay St. Louis to Biloxi to Pascagoula and beyond.

Situated between the cultural and historic cities of New Orleans and Mobile, the Mississippi Gulf Coast boasts a unique blend of historical sites well worth exploring.

Here’s our list of nine spots to check out.

The Gulf Hills Hotel and Resort

The Gulf Hills Hotel and Resort in Ocean Springs is among the Mississippi Coast’s most unique historical sites, renowned not just for its age but for its intriguing history. Opened in 1927 by the Branigar Brothers, it attracted both tourists and a star-studded clientele.

With the sale of Gulf Hills Hotel still up in the air, the future for the historic hotel that was a getaway for celebrities like Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe is uncertain.
With the sale of Gulf Hills Hotel still up in the air, the future for the historic hotel that was a getaway for celebrities like Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe is uncertain.

Legends like Al Capone are rumored to have had ties to the resort, while icons like Judy Garland, Jayne Mansfield, and Marilyn Monroe stayed during their peak fame. Elvis Presley, a Tupelo native, frequently rented Villa #9. Though Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage in 2005, recent renovations by new owners have restored its allure as a premier coastal destination.

Ship Island and Fort Massachusetts

A day trip to Ship Island offers both natural beauty and rich history. It’s a popular destination for locals and tourists, known for its pristine beaches, dolphin sightings, and fishing. Ship Island’s historical significance includes French explorer Pierre Lemoyne D’Iberville’s 1699 landing and the strategic role it played during the Civil War, becoming a crucial Union Navy base. Ship Island, alongside the historic Beauvoir mansion, offers an immersive Civil War-related experience on the Mississippi Coast, appealing to history enthusiasts and beach-goers alike

The Rodman cannon sits on the top of Fort Massachusetts. A new restoration project of the island starts June 15 to protect the historic fort on Ship Island.
The Rodman cannon sits on the top of Fort Massachusetts. A new restoration project of the island starts June 15 to protect the historic fort on Ship Island.

Waveland Ground Zero Hurricane Museum

For Coastal Mississippi residents who lived through the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the memories of that traumatic event remain vivid. Katrina caused extensive damage, impacting nearly every person, home, and building along the coast, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and upending thousands more. Despite years of costly recovery efforts and reconstruction, the Coastal community continues to remember the harrowing events of that day. The Waveland Ground Zero Hurricane Museum recounts the Mississippi Coast’s resilience and history that unfolded during this catastrophe.

Ground Zero Museum in Waveland on Tuesday will host a memorial for the 12th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and a prayer service for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Ground Zero Museum in Waveland on Tuesday will host a memorial for the 12th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and a prayer service for victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Fort Maurepas Park

Fort Maurepas Park in Ocean Springs is another throwback to Coastal Mississippi’s colonial history. The original fort, known as Fort Maurepas or Fort Biloxi, was established after the French landed on Ship Island in 1699. Under the command of Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne D’Iberville, the fort briefly served as the capital of French Louisiana in the early 1700s before burning down in 1719. Although a replica built in the 1900s was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, Fort Maurepas Park was built soon after, providing a nice outdoor experience on land once colonized by the French.

A centuries-old live oak at Fort Maurepas Park in Ocean Springs is at risk of falling on the adjacent playground, the city has concluded. On June 28, 2021, a group of concerned citizens asked for another assessment.
A centuries-old live oak at Fort Maurepas Park in Ocean Springs is at risk of falling on the adjacent playground, the city has concluded. On June 28, 2021, a group of concerned citizens asked for another assessment.

LaPointe-Krebs House

The LaPointe-Krebs House in Pascagoula, also known as the Old Spanish Fort, is Mississippi’s oldest standing structure, dating back to 1757 during the French Colonial period. Built with a unique combination of tabby concrete and wood framing, it’s the sole remaining example of this construction method along the Gulf Coast. Over its 266-year history, the house has seen numerous changes, expansions, and transformations. Today, it operates as a museum, offering insights into the Mississippi Coast’s history and the house itself.

A crew from Southern Miss was at the LaPointe–Krebs House in February 2016 to take core samples of some of the wood beams.
A crew from Southern Miss was at the LaPointe–Krebs House in February 2016 to take core samples of some of the wood beams.

Mary Mahoney’s Old French House

Mary Mahoney’s Old French House in Biloxi is a local favorite for its exceptional seafood dishes and historic charm. The restaurant is housed within a building dating back to the French Colonial period and was supposedly built by French settler Louis Frasier as far back as 1737. The building was acquired by Mary Mahoney, her husband Bob, and her brother Andrew Cvitanovich in 1962. The restaurant has earned its place as one of the Gulf Coast’s top dining destinations, appealing to history and food enthusiasts alike.

Mary Mahoney’s in Biloxi on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
Mary Mahoney’s in Biloxi on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.

Biloxi Lighthouse

The Biloxi Lighthouse, a prominent coastal icon located in Biloxi, Mississippi, is a historic treasure with a long maritime history. The lighthouse was built in 1848 and the first cast-iron lighthouse. For almost two centuries, the Biloxi Lighthouse has served as a beacon for ships traveling along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and as a cultural icon for the city. The lighthouse is a popular tourist destination that offers visitors a chance to explore its historical significance and tour the inside of one of Biloxi’s favorite icons.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly past the Biloxi Lighthouse during a practice for the Thunder Over the Sound airshow on Friday, April 28, 2023.
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly past the Biloxi Lighthouse during a practice for the Thunder Over the Sound airshow on Friday, April 28, 2023.

100 Men Hall

Bay St. Louis boasts an interesting gem along the Mississippi Blues Trail, which is the historically and musically significant 100 Men Hall. Established in 1922 by the One Hundred Members’ Debating Benevolent Association, this hall was a vibrant hub for Black musicians, and hosted a diverse array of musical and social events over the decades.

The Listening Booths at the 100 Men Hall were sponsored by the 100 WOMEN DBA, a membership organization that supports the preservation and maintenance of the Hall. The event, held on Saturday, was designed to bring healing to the community in the face of racial unrest across the U.S. after the killings Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Tony McDade. People of many races came together to speak out and share collective outrage and grief in “order to set a path toward racial healing,” 100 Men Hall director Rachel Dangermond said. Photos by Ann Madden Photography & Design

Today, 100 Men Hall continues to host local and guest musical performances, preserving its historic charm and offering a chance for visitors to experience the Mississippi blues in person. They host blues singers, actors and throw Booker Fest and a wildly popular drag brunch.

Pass Christian Scenic Drive Historic District

It would be difficult to pick a singular historical location in Pass Christian to check out, considering most the entire city is historic. However, the Pass Christian Scenic Drive Historic District is well worth a visit, offering a two-mile drive past dozens historic antebellum homes, majestic oak trees, charming cottages, and an amazing view of the beach. Many of the mansions on this route were built in the 1800s as summer getaways for New Orleans natives hoping to enjoy the coastal breeze.

The historic home at 709 East Scenic Drive in Pass Christian was built in 1840 and was the first house in town to get electric lights.
The historic home at 709 East Scenic Drive in Pass Christian was built in 1840 and was the first house in town to get electric lights.