Tivoli Hotel (Biloxi, Mississippi) facts for kids
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Biloxi’s Tivoli Hotel
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Tivoli Hotel 1984
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 420 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, Mississippi |
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| Built | 1926-27 |
| Architect | Carl E. Matthes |
| Architectural style | Second Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002167 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 18, 1984 |
| Removed from NRHP | November 5, 2008 |
The Tivoli Hotel was a famous building in Biloxi, Mississippi. It was built between 1926 and 1927. This hotel was a tall, T-shaped building made of brick. It was designed in a style called Second Renaissance Revival, which means it looked like buildings from the Renaissance period in Europe.
In 1984, the Tivoli Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects in the United States that are important to history. Sadly, in 2005, the hotel was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina and later had to be taken down.
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Hotel History: A Look Back
The Tivoli Hotel was a very fancy place when it first opened. It had 64 rooms for guests, plus a large lobby, a dining room, and a ballroom for parties and events. It was known as a luxury hotel, offering a high-class experience for visitors.
Fun and Games at the Hotel
During the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, many hotels along the Mississippi Gulf Coast allowed gambling as a way to attract tourists. The Tivoli Hotel was one of these places. Guests could find slot machines right in the hotel lobby, making it a lively spot for entertainment.
Changes Over Time
In the 1950s, the hotel was updated and got a new name: the Trade Winds Hotel. But as new, more modern hotels were built along the coast, the Trade Winds Hotel started to lose its sparkle. By the 1970s, it was no longer a luxury hotel. Instead, it became an apartment building for people who needed a temporary place to stay.
By the 1990s, the main part of the hotel was closed to the public. The owner tried to sell the property, but people who wanted to develop the land usually didn't want to keep the old hotel building.
Saving a Landmark
In 2003, a group called the Mississippi Heritage Trust listed the Tivoli Hotel as one of the ten most endangered landmarks in Mississippi. This meant they believed the building was very important but was at risk of being lost forever. People hoped to find a way to save it.
Hurricane Katrina's Impact
Any plans to save the Tivoli Hotel changed in August 2005. That's when Hurricane Katrina, a very powerful storm, hit the coast. The hurricane brought strong winds of about 120 miles per hour (195 km/h) and a huge tidal surge (a wall of water) that was 27 feet (8.2 meters) high.
The storm pushed a large casino barge (a flat boat used for gambling) right into the southeast corner of the Tivoli Hotel. This caused a lot of damage to the building.
In the months after the hurricane, cities and the state worked hard to recover. As part of these efforts, the land where the Tivoli Hotel stood was changed to allow for waterfront gaming. In May 2006, the damaged Tivoli Hotel was finally taken down.
