History & Heritage

Coastal Mississippi’s history is almost as rich as its scenic views. And you can explore both on our daily tours or at a slew of historic sights you’ll see around town.

For starters, take a fun ferry ride to Ship Island for our very own Fort Massachusetts. Construction on Fort Massachusetts began just before the Civil War and…well, we’ll stop here. A park ranger will tell you the rest upon arrival. Then swing on by Beauvoir, the retirement estate of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Completed in 1852, it stands on a spectacular 52-acre site overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

For a greater flavor of Gulf Coast history, you can visit the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum. With an array of artifacts, exhibits and extraordinary photos, you’ll savor the experience and then some.

Other must-see history includes lovely lighthouses, southern cemeteries and The Blues Trail (blues had to start somewhere, and lucky for us, the trailblazing began here.)