Pleasant Reed House facts for kids
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Pleasant Reed House
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Drawing of Pleasant Reed House
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | Original site: 306 Elmer Street, Biloxi, Mississippi |
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| Built | circa 1887 |
| Architect | Pleasant Reed |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001308 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Destroyed | August 29, 2005 |
| Added to NRHP | January 11, 1979 |
| Removed from NRHP | July 16, 2008 |
The Pleasant Reed House was a special home in Biloxi, Mississippi. It was built by a man named Pleasant Reed around 1887. This house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it was an important historical site.
The house was a type called a shotgun house. This kind of house is narrow and long, with rooms lined up one after another. It tells an important story about American history and the people who lived in it.
The Story of Pleasant Reed
Pleasant Reed (1854–1932) was born into slavery on a farm in Mississippi. After the American Civil War ended, he became a free man. He moved with his family to Biloxi, a city on the coast.
As a freedman, Pleasant Reed worked hard. He was a laborer and a carpenter. He saved enough money to build a home for his growing family. This house was a symbol of his freedom and hard work.
A House with a History
Years later, the Biloxi chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority helped save the house. They worked to get it recognized as a historic place. In 1979, the Pleasant Reed House was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2003, the house was moved to a new location. It became part of the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum Of Art. The museum restored the house carefully. It then opened to the public for tours. Visitors could learn about its history and the life of Pleasant Reed.
Rebuilding Hope After Hurricane Katrina
On August 29, 2005, a very powerful storm hit Biloxi. This was Hurricane Katrina. Sadly, the Pleasant Reed House was completely destroyed by the hurricane.
Even though the house was gone, its story was not. Museum workers saved important old papers and photos of the house. The museum's leaders decided to rebuild the house. They wanted to make sure its history was not forgotten.
The Pleasant Reed Interpretive Center opened on September 29, 2008. This new building is a copy of the original house. It helps people learn about local African American history. It shows how important the Pleasant Reed House was and still is.
