Top Things to do in Mississippi Gulf Coast
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What to do and see in Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast: The Best Things to do Good for Kids
Discover the best top things to do in Mississippi Gulf Coast, United States including War Memorial Park, Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, Beauvoir, Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Friendship Oak, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Biloxi Lighthouse, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Biloxi Visitors Center, Hancock County Welcome Center.
Restaurants in Mississippi Gulf Coast
1. War Memorial Park
2. Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 230 reviews
The Museum exhibits hundreds of one-of-a-kind artifacts and an unrivaled collection of vintage photos, which tells the story from the time of the first Indian settlement through generations of immigrants whose journey contributed to the melting-pot culture of the Gulf Coast. The Grand Hall features the "Nydia" a 30' gaff rigged cabin sloop built in Biloxi in 1898 at the Johnson Shipyard. Featured exhibits include shrimping, oystering, recreational fishing, wetlands, marine blacksmithing, net-making, boat building, hurricanes, featuring Camille and Katrina, all the while telling the tale of over 300 years of history, culture and heritage. The Museum is available for special events, meetings, weddings, etc.
Reviewed By lauried116 - Irmo, United States
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this impressive museum! The Hurricane Katrina exhibit and video were riveting! There are interesting displays of the seafood industry, boat building, hurricane history and the impact on the area, and exhibits on the delicate balance of ecosystems (bayou, marshes, and estuaries). We spent 2½ hours exploring this fascinating museum. I would highly recommend it!
3. Beauvoir
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,170 reviews
Home of Ex-Confederate President of the Confederate States of America where he lived his remaining 12 years of his life (post-war) and where he wrote "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government." Golf Carts are now available to rent. Guided tour of the home showing how life was lived by the President and his family and self guided grounds (Varina's Garden, Cemetery, and nature trail), Museum, separated into 3 sections: Rotating Gallery, Soldier's Exhibit, and President Davis Exhibit. Research Library including reference books to accommodate most genealogy research focused on the Civil War.
Reviewed By interceptpubs - Columbus, United States
Built around 1850 by James Brown, a wealthy planter, as a summer home on the Gulf of Mexico, Brown called his new estate "Orange Grove." Brown died in 1866, but it wasn't until 1873 that the property was sold to pay back taxes and settle his estate. It quickly changed hands a couple of times, ending up in the possession of Sarah Ann Dorsey, the daughter of a wealthy planter in Natchez. She bought the house along with 600 hundred surrounding acres, renaming it "Beauvoir" or "beautiful view." Dorsey was a childhood friend of Varina Howell, Jefferson Davis' second wife, and herself had known the Davis family all her life, often visiting the Confederate president's elder brother Joseph's family at his home, Hurricane Plantation, near Vicksburg. When Jefferson Davis came to the Gulf Coast in 1877 seeking a place to write his memoirs, Dorsey offered him the use of one of the cabins on the estate. Two years later Dorsey died, leaving the entire estate to Davis. Davis, his wife, and their youngest daughter, known as Winnie, lived here until his death in 1889. The remaining two women moved to New York City in 1891, although they retained ownership of Beauvoir. The Davis family finally sold it in 1902 to the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans for use as a veterans home. It served in this role until 1953. The main house was turned into a shrine to the late Confederate president in 1941 with a museum honoring Confederate soldiers in the basement. With the closure of the veterans home, the home's hospital became the soldier's museum and a Davis' family museum took up the exhibit space in the main house's basement. In the late 90s, the Jefferson Davis Library and Museum were opened on the grounds. Unfortunately, just a few short years later, Katrina hit devastating the ocean front property. The main house survived, but has required extensive restoration that is only now in its final stages. A number of artifacts were also damaged, and the Library was effectively destroyed. Overall damage estimates exceeded $25 million dollars. Fortunately, much of the restoration is now complete, as we discovered in our recent visit to the estate. The first stop for visitors is the gift shop where tickets ($12.50 for adults) for the hourly house tours can be purchased. The tour itself last about 30 minutes and covers all the rooms in the house (although some rooms, such as Jefferson Davis' bedroom, are only looked at through the glass doors/windows). The rooms are mostly furnished with pieces from the Davis' family. The docent provides a fairly fast paced overview of the estate's history with a particular emphasis on the time that the Davis family lived here. After the house tour, we went back into the main building to look at the museum exhibits that take up much of the second floor. Items from Jefferson Davis, including correspondence, as well as an extensive collection of Civil War military material (edged weapons, rifles, flags, etc.) are on display. Some damaged items are shown to illustrate the havoc caused by Katrina. We then walked the 50 or so acres of grounds including out to the soldiers cemetery, where we found the grave of the Confederate unknown soldier, before finally hitting the gift shop to buy some interesting books on the history of the estate, the Civil War, and Mississippi. Overall, we spent about two hours here and enjoyed every minute of it.
4. Walter Anderson Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 262 reviews
The Walter Anderson Museum of Art (WAMA), founded in 1991, is located in historic Ocean Springs on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. WAMA is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of artist-philosopher Walter Anderson (1903-1965) and his family. Walter Anderson’s paintings, drawings, murals, block prints, sculpture, carvings, and writings of coastal plants, animals, landscapes, and people have placed him among the most compelling and singular artists of the 20th century.
Reviewed By phelpsusa - Orlando, United States
Awesome museum, awesome art, tragic life history, two rooms are covered in art from floor to ceiling.
5. Friendship Oak
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 122 reviews
Over 500 years old, this oak tree is allegedly Mississippi's oldest and most beautiful tree.
Reviewed By rhondac396 - Memphis, United States
The Friendship Oak has chronicled the history of the Mississippi Gulf Coast for more than 500 years, sheltering generations through calm and storm. Located on the Gulf Park campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, it is a massive live oak tree with extraordinary girth and heavy branches that reach low and far. Take time to visit this tree and you will marvel at its age, its size, and its living history. Wow!
6. Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 280 reviews
Located in a 1915 schoolhouse, under the large live oaks, just blocks from the beach in Gulfport, MS, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center is a special place for children and their grown-ups. Inside, 15,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits encourage fun, learning and creativity. Discover different cultures at Celebrate the World We Share, board the train at Dolan Avenue Depot, and create a mini masterpiece at our art studio, Art Knows Anything Goes. Outside, oak-covered acres provide more space to let the imagination run wild. Play house in the trees, tap a tune in the outdoor musical garden, and explore the tiny town of Kids Street. Lynn Meadows Discovery Center is honored to be a recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Services, which recognizes exceptional contributions to the community.
Reviewed By athliq3 - Blaine, United States
We needed to find a place for the kids while it rained. This was it! I cannot speak to the outdoor stuff or the classes but we had great fun inside burning energy. There is a climbing structure in the center, play supermarket, play vet and many more. Seating for adults while the kids explore the building and participate in the different play things. If it’s raining and you need to get out....this is the spot. And, it’s $3 per person from 3-5 each day.
7. Biloxi Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 497 reviews
The Biloxi Lighthouse was erected in 1848 and was one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South. It is the city's signature landmark and has become a post-Katrina symbol of the city's resolve and resilience. The light was civilian operated from 1848 to 1939, and is notable for its several female lightkeepers, including Maria Younghans, who tended the light for 53 years. In 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed responsibility for the light's operation.After being declared surplus property in 1968, the Biloxi Lighthouse was deeded to the City of Biloxi, which eventually opened it to public tours.The lighthouse has withstood many storms over the years. Katrina's storm surge enveloped a third of the 64-foot tall lighthouse, and the constant pounding from the water and winds toppled many bricks that lined the interior of the cast iron tower. The storm’s winds also broke many of the windows in the light cupola and destroyed the structure's electrical systemIn March 2010, the city re-opened the lighthouse to public tours after a 14-month, $400,000 restoration that was funded by FEMA and MEMA and completed by Biloxi contractor J.O. Collins.
Reviewed By genoacowboy - Houston, United States
A very Historical Lighhouse, Can Be toured Visit the visitor center across from it and there you can buy tickets for a tour, Recommended
8. Gulf Islands National Seashore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 330 reviews
Reviewed By Hollyhouse180
Enjoyed our visit to the Davis Bayou Area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Film at the visitors center provided good background information before we hiked some trails in the area. Was hoping to see more wildlife but not the best weather for it, though we did see several alligators in the ponds, plus many turtles and a few lizards. Also saw an osprey and some pelicans fishing from point at the old CCC camp. The CCC camp site was a highlight on its own for us, and the wide variety of flora unfamiliar to us northerners was quite interesting, too. If you like to explore the outdoors, this is a great place to visit.
9. Biloxi Visitors Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,354 reviews
Reviewed By OPMaster1978 - Bowling Green, United States
The Biloxi Visitors Center is located in a beautiful building that has some architectural features of a mansion from the Antebellum period. The staff are very friendly and there are many brochures and flyers available offering information on nearby attractions, restaurants and shops. At the rear of the building is a small, but informative museum documenting the history of Biloxi and the various groups that have contributed to the city over the years. This is a good first stop for any tourists who are planning on spending time in the area.
10. Hancock County Welcome Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By Mgdan - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What a nicely maintained and patrolled visitors center! Also very friendly and alert security. Clean grounds and restrooms! Pua my piggy traveling companion loved grazing in the grass! I have been to other rest areas in upper Mississippi...they too are great. From my travels, Mississippi has some of the best maintained, staffed and scenic rest stops of all the southern states! Even Texas ha!
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