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Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum facts for kids
Main façade of museum in 2014
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| Established | 1986 |
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| Location | Biloxi, Mississippi, USA |
| Type | Maritime museum |
The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum (MSIM) opened in 1986. Its main goal is to save and share the amazing maritime history of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The museum shows how people have used the sea for fishing, shrimping, and building boats for many years.
You can see exhibits about shrimping, oystering, and even how people built wooden boats. There are also old photos and items that tell the story of the area's sea life. Inside, there's also the Wade Guice Hurricane Museum. It has 1,400 square feet of exhibits and a modern theater. The museum even has two full-size replicas of old Biloxi Schooners.
Sadly, in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the museum. But nine years later, a brand new museum opened its doors to the public.
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Fun Programs and Events
The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum hosts two exciting events every year. These are the Sea and Sail Adventure Camp and the Billy Creel Memorial Wooden Boat Show.
Sea and Sail Adventure Camp
The Sea and Sail Adventure Camp is for kids aged 6 to 12. It's a chance to learn about the history of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Kids get to go sailing, try fishing, make maritime crafts, and visit places related to the seafood industry.
Billy Creel Memorial Wooden Boat Show
The Billy Creel Memorial Wooden Boat Show is a big event. It brings together many different kinds of wooden boats. You can see old, classic, and new wooden boats. It's the largest gathering of boats on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Famous Schooners
The museum has two replica oyster schooners. These are named the Glenn L. Swetman and the Mike Sekul. These types of ships were used along the Gulf Coast from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. They were very important for the oyster industry.
However, new marine engines came along, and oyster fishing laws changed. Because of this, these beautiful schooners were no longer used for work.
Schooner Pier Complex
The Schooner Pier Complex was finished in June 2006. This pier is the home for the two Biloxi Schooner replicas, the Glenn L. Swetman and the Mike Sekul. The pier has three covered areas and a storage space for parts of the schooners. It also has restrooms that are easy for everyone to use. There's even an observation deck on the second story where you can get great views.
A New Beginning
After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the original building, a new three-story museum was built. This new museum is much bigger, with 20,000 square feet of space. It opened its doors to the public on August 2, 2014, bringing the museum back to life.