Even if you're lured to Biloxi for the gambling, find time to explore some of the other attractions. The city is one of the country's oldest communities (established in 1699), and some of the historic houses and buildings off the beachfront survived Katrina. An excellent walking tour begins downtown. The 1847 Biloxi Lighthouse has long been an important symbol of the city's maritime history. After Katrina, the lighthouse became even more valuable to local residents as a symbol of hope, because it withstood the hurricane's massive devastation.
Farther west in Biloxi from Beach Boulevard, you can see reconstruction work proceeding on Beauvoir, the last home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Beauvoir was heavily damaged but will be rebuilt. An adjoining cemetery contains the graves of more than 700 Confederate soldiers as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier.
Biloxi was once known as "The Seafood Capital of the World." The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum at Point Cadet that detailed that history was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and the Gulf Coast's seafood industry suffered a huge blow. Plans are being made to rebuild the museum, and the seafood industry has rebounded and remains a vital part of the local economy. During shrimp season, tourists can visit with local fishermen and purchase fresh shrimp directly off the boats, which are moored in Biloxi harbors on Beach Boulevard and the Back Bay.
