Beauvoir (Biloxi, Mississippi) facts for kids
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Beauvoir
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Beauvoir in February 2010
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2244 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, Mississippi |
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| Built | 1848 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000448 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 3, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | November 7, 1993 |
Beauvoir is a historic estate located in Biloxi, Mississippi. It sits right along the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. This special place was the home of Jefferson Davis after the American Civil War. He was the former President of the Confederate States of America. The National Park Service has recognized Beauvoir as a National Historic Landmark because of its important history.
Jefferson Davis lived here from 1876 until he passed away in 1889. He lived with his wife, Varina Davis, and their youngest daughter, Varina Anne Davis, also known as "Winnie."
A kind woman named Sarah Dorsey owned Beauvoir before Davis. She invited him to live in a small house on the property. She wanted him to have a quiet place to write his memoirs. After Sarah Dorsey became ill, she decided to leave Beauvoir to Jefferson Davis and his daughter Winnie in her will.
After Davis died, his wife Varina inherited the estate. In 1902, she sold it to the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. She wanted it to be a home for older soldiers who fought for the Confederacy. It was also meant to be a memorial to her husband. Barracks were built for the veterans. The property served as a home for veterans until 1953. After that, the main house became a museum. A library was also built and opened in 1998.
Beauvoir has faced tough times. It survived Hurricane Camille in 1969. However, Hurricane Katrina caused major damage on August 29, 2005. The main house and library were badly hurt, and other buildings were destroyed. The house has since been restored and is open again. Work also continues on the library.
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What is Beauvoir Like?
The name "Beauvoir" means "beautiful to view" in French. It's a perfect name for this lovely place! When Jefferson Davis lived here, the estate was very large. It covered about 608 acres (2.46 km²). The house was surrounded by tall cedar, oak, and magnolia trees. There was even an orange grove behind it.
The home faces the Gulf of Mexico, offering amazing views. Spanish moss hangs from many of the old trees. A freshwater stream called Oyster Bayou runs through the property. This stream is fed by natural springs. Part of the estate still has an old forest. It looks much like it did in the 1800s.
Today, Beauvoir is about 52 acres (0.21 km²) in size. It is located across US Highway 90 from Biloxi Beach. The property includes the main house, which is built in a Louisiana-raised cottage style. There is also a botanical garden and a former home for Confederate veterans. You can also find a gift shop, a Confederate Soldier Museum, and the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and Museum. There are other small buildings and a historic cemetery. This cemetery includes the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier.
Sadly, Hurricane Katrina destroyed five of these seven buildings. Replicas are being planned to rebuild them. There are also plans to restore Oyster Bayou to its natural state.
A Look Back at Beauvoir's History
Beauvoir was built by James Brown, a businessman, starting in 1848. It was finished in 1852. In 1873, the property was sold to Samuel and Sarah Anne Ellis Dorsey. They used the land to grow cotton. Sarah Dorsey was also a writer and historian.
In 1876, Sarah Dorsey heard that Jefferson Davis was having financial problems. She invited him to stay at Beauvoir. She gave him a small cottage to live in. She also helped him write his important book, The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government. She helped him organize his thoughts and took dictation.
Davis accepted her offer and moved into the cottage in 1877. This cottage is now called the Library Pavilion. Later, his wife Varina joined him.
In 1879, Davis arranged to buy the property for $5,500. However, Sarah Dorsey knew she was dying. She rewrote her will in 1878. She left the plantation to Davis and his daughter. Sarah Dorsey passed away in 1879.
Davis, Varina, and their youngest daughter, Winnie, moved into the main house. Davis lived there until he died in December 1889. Varina Davis stayed at Beauvoir while she wrote her own book, Jefferson Davis: A Memoir. She and Winnie moved to New York City in 1891.
After Winnie died in 1898, Varina Howell Davis inherited the property. In 1902, she sold most of it to the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). She wanted it to be a home for Confederate veterans and their widows. Later, it would become a memorial to her husband. The SCV built many barracks, a hospital, and a chapel. From 1903 to 1957, about 2,500 veterans and their families lived there. Many of these veterans are buried in a cemetery on the property.
In 1941, the main house opened for public tours. Later, a Confederate Museum was opened. Over the years, a Jefferson Davis Gallery, a gift shop, the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier, and the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and Museum were added.
In 1969, the home survived Hurricane Camille. It needed some repairs after the flooding.
In 1998, the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans opened the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library. It holds Jefferson Davis's personal books and papers. It also has exhibits about his life and a theater.
Hurricane Katrina's Impact
The Damage
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Biloxi-Gulfport area hard. The main building at Beauvoir was severely damaged. It lost its porches and part of its roof. However, it was not completely destroyed. The storm did destroy other buildings, like the Hayes Cottage, the Library Pavilion, a barracks replica, the Confederate Museum, and the director's home. The first floor of the Davis Presidential Library was also ruined. About 35% of the library's collection was lost.
Even though the damage was huge, the hurricane also led to detailed government photos of the building. These photos showed some amazing architectural details. They also revealed parts of the original building's structure.
For example, at the entrance, you can see decorative molding above the door and windows. The inside structure was also revealed in damaged areas. You could see the red-brick pillars in the basement and the wooden wall frames. The outside of Beauvoir was protected by six fireplaces around its center. Only one of the six chimneys on the roof fell during the hurricane. The other five fireplaces were strong enough to keep the walls from collapsing.
On the back, west side of Beauvoir, the green storm shutters survived the floating debris. The shutters protected the glass windows. This happened even with a 24-foot (8-meter) storm surge that covered the area. Many parts of the Beauvoir home stayed intact. This helped preserve many original details and windows.
Rebuilding Beauvoir
Thousands of homes in Mississippi were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. So, rebuilding Beauvoir took some time. But because it is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved federal help.
With money from federal, state, and private groups, restoration of Beauvoir Mansion began in early 2006. On June 3, 2008, which was Jefferson Davis's 200th Birthday, Beauvoir Mansion was fully restored. It reopened for public tours. The mansion was made to look just as it did when Jefferson and Varina Davis lived there.
In the winter of 2009, Davis's library and Hayes's cottage were rebuilt. They also opened for public tours.
The Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and Museum opened in June 2013. Many historical items were saved from the hurricane damage. They were restored or repaired.
The historic kitchen behind the Beauvoir mansion was also rebuilt.
The total cost for the renovation was about $17.2 million. This money came from state and federal sources.
Saving the Collections
About 60% of the collections were saved. Before Katrina, the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library had 12,000 books. These books were about United States history, southern history, and the American Civil War. The library also had photos, personal letters, and old records. These included records from Confederate heritage groups and the veterans' home. Most of these records survived. However, items on display in the two museums were lost.
Volunteers and the Mississippi Army National Guard helped save items. It was hard to sort through the debris. The room with real china and artifacts was next to the gift shop, which had replicas. Both rooms were destroyed. This made it very difficult to tell the real items from the copies.
Beauvoir Today
Today, Beauvoir is owned and run by the Mississippi Division of Sons of Confederate Veterans. The museum focuses on the life of Jefferson Davis and the history of the Confederacy. The State of Mississippi provides an annual grant of $100,000 for its upkeep.
Fun Activities at Beauvoir
Before Hurricane Katrina, Beauvoir held several annual events. These included the Spring Pilgrimage in March and Confederate Memorial Day in April. There was also the Fall Muster in October and Candlelight Christmas in December. As of 2018, the Fall Muster is a very popular event.
Visitors to the site can watch a film about Jefferson Davis's life. An actor playing Davis's friend, Iowa Senator George Wallace Jones, narrates the film.
Special Recognitions
Beauvoir is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a place important to the history of the United States. It is also a National Historic Landmark. Plus, it's recognized as a Mississippi Historical Landmark by the state.
