Beauvoir

Mississippi

Beauvoir is a historic estate located in Biloxi, Mississippi, that served as the post-war home of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, from 1876 until his death in 1889. Built between 1848 and 1852 by James Brown, the estate features a distinctive Louisiana-raised summer cottage architectural style, surrounded by oaks, cedars, and magnolia trees with views of the Gulf of Mexico. The property originally spanned over 600 acres, including an orange grove and Oyster Bayou, a freshwater bayou fed by artesian springs. After Davis' death, the estate was sold to the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and used as a Confederate veterans home until 1957, when it was converted to a museum. Today, Beauvoir includes the restored main house, the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and Museum, a Confederate Soldier Museum, a botanical garden, a historic Confederate cemetery, and a gift shop. The estate survived major hurricanes Camille and Katrina, with extensive restoration efforts following the 2005 damage. Visitors can explore the house museum with original furnishings, learn about Davis' life and legacy, and enjoy guided tours that provide historical insights into the Civil War era and Southern culture. Beauvoir remains a significant cultural landmark preserving the history and memory of the Confederacy and the American South.