Visiting a Historical Mansion in Biloxi, MS

What stories are waiting behind the doors of one of Biloxi’s best-known historic homes? Beauvoir, a historic mansion in Biloxi, MS, offers visitors a closer look at life on the Gulf Coast during the nineteenth century. Once home to Jefferson Davis and his family, the property now includes a furnished mansion, museum, library, cottages, garden, and cemetery. If you’re staying in Long Beach, it’s an interesting stop for learning about local history and exploring a different side of the coast.

A Brief History of Beauvoir

James Brown began building Beauvoir as a summer home in 1848 and finished it by 1852. Enslaved workers and hired craftsmen helped construct the house using local cypress and longleaf heart pine. Its raised design allowed sea breezes to circulate beneath it, helping to keep the rooms cool.

Sarah Dorsey later owned the property and named it Beauvoir, meaning “beautiful view.” She invited Jefferson Davis, the former president of the Confederacy, to stay there in 1877 while he worked on his memoirs. Davis purchased Beauvoir in 1879 and lived there with his wife, Varina, and daughter, Winnie.

The estate later became a home for Confederate veterans and their families. Hurricane Katrina badly damaged the property in 2005, but restoration work allowed the mansion to reopen in 2008.

What to See at Beauvoir

Explore the Furnished Mansion

A guide leads you through the mansion, which has been restored to its 1889 appearance. Furnishings, fireplaces, and decorative details help you picture the home during the Davis family’s years there.

Take time to notice how the rooms connect and how the raised structure suits its coastal setting. Ask your guide which parts survived the hurricanes and which needed restoration.

Visit the Museum and Library

The Beauvoir Civil War Museum features exhibits about Jefferson Davis and Confederate history. It adds background to the people and events discussed during the house tour.

The Jefferson Davis Presidential Library has books, genealogy resources, and research stations. Its collections cover military history, families, maps, and other subjects from the period. Materials stay onsite, so visitors interested in research should allow extra time.

Together, these stops offer more to explore beyond the mansion’s furnished rooms.

Walk Around the Cottages and Garden

The reconstructed Library Pavilion and Hayes Cottage show how smaller buildings formed part of the estate. The original Library Cottage provided Davis with a place to work on his memoirs.

Mrs. Varina’s Garden, a restored rose garden, offers another stop outdoors. Continue to the Confederate Memorial Cemetery, where you’ll find the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier and the grave of Davis’s father, Samuel.

Helpful Tips Before You Go

Beauvoir is located at 2244 Beach Boulevard in Biloxi. When planning a visit to this historical mansion in Biloxi MS, allow approximately two to three hours for the house, exhibits, and grounds.

Standard admission includes the guided mansion tour and access to the other attractions. Listed prices are $15 for adults, $7 for children ages 6–17, and free for children five and younger. Buy tickets at the gift shop upon arrival, and check the official website for current prices and tour information.

Beauvoir describes the property as accessible and offers golf cart rentals. For specific mobility needs, call 228-388-4400 before visiting.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and sun protection, and choose a cooler part of the day for walking outside.

See More of the Coast

Visiting this historical mansion in Biloxi MS gives you time to explore local architecture and learn about the people connected to it. For more ideas during your stay, browse these must-see Biloxi museums and historic estates.

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