In 1953, the fourth annual conference of the Gulf States Region of American Institute of Architects was held in Biloxi, on Sept. 17-19. The theme of the conference was “Serving the People of the New South Through Architectural Progress” and there was a strong focus… Read More ›
Biloxi
Adaptive Reuse
Last September in Malvaney’s post on Mid-Century Fondren’s First National Bank R P Adams commented that as drive up traffic became heavier than lobby traffic banks started having smaller or in some cases no interior banking floor, turning full efforts to multiple… Read More ›
Vacation Postcards: Methodist Seashore Camp Grounds
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past.
Biloxi Aeroplane Bungalow
I had always thought the term “Aeroplane” or “Airplane” Bungalow was a modern term, one of the many bizarre descriptions that are a lay person’s terminology or inscribed by super studious architectural historians to describe an architectural trend. So imagine my… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 2-15-2016
News about historic places from the Gulf Coast to Northeast Mississippi and beyond.
What exactly was StoneKote?
Last week, reader Carl mentioned the Avalon Motor Lodge in Biloxi and wondered about the history. I could not turn up much, but located an article about renovating the Avalon with “Stonekote–a veneer of stone-like material that encases the building… Read More ›
Bucky in Biloxi
In 1958 the ninth annual conference of the Gulf States Region of American Institute of Architects was held in Biloxi. It had several big names planned as speakers including Dr. Wernher Von Braun (who ended up not being able to attend) and designer, author, inventor,… Read More ›
National Register 2015: Historic Districts
National Register listings come in two sizes: individual properties and historic districts. In this year’s National Register listings, historic districts outnumber individual properties, which is unusual because districts take more work than individual buildings or sites. The number of districts this year is a… Read More ›
Biloxi Cemetery Canopies
A belated happy All Saints’ Day to you. If you’ve ever been through the Biloxi Cemetery you may have seen structures over plots that resemble a tent frame. According to the 1938 WPA Guide to Mississippi the structures are… “Probably… Read More ›
Exhibition of the Architecture of Carl E. Matthes Sr.
The Local History & Genealogy Department of the Harrison County Library System is currently showing an exhibit on the works of Carl E. Matthes, Sr. (1896-1972). The exhibit features many newspaper clippings, photographs, and original plans from both Matthes’ independent practice and… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 9-21-2015
In addition to the bad news about the Port Gibson fire and the great news about the Threefoot Building last week, here are a few more news stories from the past week to help you get back on your feet after this… Read More ›
Help build a collection of Mississippi’s Preservation Guidelines
Click here to view the most up-to-date MissPres Collection of Mississippi Preservation Guidelines. Any Mississippi town with a historic preservation commission that oversees a local historic district very likely has a set of design guidelines. These guidelines offer general design and technical recommendations… Read More ›
Commemorating Landmarks Lost to Katrina
There are eight magnolia markers along the coast that feature engravings for the structures lost due to Hurricane Katrina. The drawings were done by Richard J. Cawthon, a historic preservation specialist for FEMA’s Mississippi Recovery Office & former chief architectural historian… Read More ›
46th Anniversary of Hurricane Camille
To mark this occasion let’s look back at a collection of posts as to how we’ve previously commemorated the anniversary of the Gulf Coast’s second-most destructive storm in memory. Last year we marked the 45th Anniversary of Hurricane Camille by taking a… Read More ›
Tomorrow! Mississippi Heritage Trust Preservation Trail
If you haven’t seen any of the previous posts… Tomorrow, August 15, 2015, is the day of the Mississippi Heritage Trust Gulf Coast Preservation Trail. This is your chance to poke around historic places across the Mississippi Gulf Coast that were saved or… Read More ›
Gulf Coast Preservation Trail next Saturday August 15
Just a reminder that the Mississippi Heritage Trust “Preservation Trail” event commemorating the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the preservation victories that came out of tragedy, will take place Saturday August 15, 2015 from 10am to 2pm. This is an… Read More ›
Unbuilt Mississippi: An R.H. Hunt Bank in Biloxi
This Unbuilt Mississippi post features what would have been the tallest structure in downtown Biloxi until the construction of the Santa Maria del Mar in the early 1970’s. I was able to find this nugget in a 1908 issue of The… Read More ›
Mississippi by Air: Biloxi Waterfront After Casinos
This pre-Hurricane Katrina postcard acts as a book end for the c. 1964 pre-Hurricane Camille postcard from Tuesday’s post. That postcard was originally featured on MissPres in the post Mississippi by Air: Biloxi Waterfront Before Casinos
Happy Shrimp Season
If you are feeling down in the dumps from the start of hurricane season and Monday’s hurricane post, maybe the start of shrimp season with the promise of wonderful fresh shrimp will lift your spirit. The horizon south of the… Read More ›
Mississippi by Air: Broadwater Beach, Biloxi
For the Broadwater’s story, see “Pleasure Domes Past” by Tom Barnes.
Mississippi Unbuilt: Biloxi Lusting for Lustrons
KEESLER TO SPEND $1,000,000 ON 67 NEW HOUSING UNITS Special to the Times Picayune Biloxi, Miss., May 29– Approximately $1 million will be spent on construction of 67 three-bedroom units at Keesler Air Force Base, it was announced by the… Read More ›
Biloxi’s 2015 “Preservation in May” event schedule released
(Biloxi’s) 8th Annual “Preservation in May” Thursdays, May 2015 Various times and locations in Biloxi In observance of May being National Preservation Month, each year the City of Biloxi, Biloxi Bay Chamber, Biloxi Main Street, Biloxi Public School District, USM, and Local… Read More ›
Tulane BUNGALOWS exhibit enters final month
The Southeastern Architectural Archives at Tulane University’s exhibit on bungalows is coming to a close next month. If you have not had a chance to see the exhibit and will be in New Orleans on a weekday before May 20th,… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: West End Fire Station
The Biloxi Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, the first fire company for the city, was organized September 3, 1883 (The Daily Picayune, September 6, 1883, p. 1, R. L. Bellande, Biloxi Historical Society). West End Fire Co. No. 3 was… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 3-23-2015
From the resurrection of the Delta Queen, to National Register listings around the state, and a virtual Frank Lloyd Wright Summit, the MissPres News Roundup is your weekly must-read.
Lameuse Street Craftsman
Yesterday’s Facebook post by the MDAH Historic Preservation Division indicated that the Lameuse Street Historic District in Biloxi has been recommended by the Mississippi National Register Review Board for listing on the National Register. That reminded me that there are… Read More ›
Architects Pics: John T. Collins, Fat Tuesday Edition
The Carnival balls have been thrown and parades have been rolling across the coast for weeks. However you are marking the day I thought it would be fun to share a photograph of Biloxi architect John T. Collins. While not… Read More ›