More than Just Buildings: Restoring Mississippi’s Historic Landmarks
The recovery efforts have been focused on putting Mississippians back in their homes, or back in a new home, if need be. And, helping the bulk of the Mississippi citizenry is exactly where relief funding should be going.
Part of bringing the state back to its pre-Katrina status, however, consists of restoring the regional character that was part of this Gulf Coast state’s rich history. In order to bring back the character of Mississippi, much time, money, and effort has been allocated to revitalizing its historical landmarks.
Beauvoir Restoration
One success story of historical restoration happened in the coastal town of Biloxi. Biloxi was once the home to Jefferson Davis, president of the short-lived Confederate States of America. Davis’ mansion, named Beauvoir, was also attached to a presidential library and listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.
During Katrina, Beauvoir was flooded with nearly a foot of water, despite the nine-foot stilts the house sits upon. The roof was in pieces, the supporting columns broken, and the porch washed away. Over $17 million in federal funding was designated to repair Beauvoir. About a year after it sat in ruins, it opened its doors once again, boasting a completely new presidential library in place of the old one.
Biloxi Pride
Biloxi’s historic lighthouse was another nearby landmark that was bashed by Katrina. The lighthouse had been in operation since 1848 and had been designated a National Historic Landmark. Over $400,000 went to fund the restoration of the lighthouse, which is still used as a navigational aid today.
Widespread Projects
A large $26 million grant called the Mississippi Hurricane Relief Grant Program for Historic Preservation has been allocated to fund over 300 historic reservation projects, both big and small. The restoration of these historical buildings helps to give direction and inspiration to those communities still recovering from the disaster. While many of these projects are completed or are ongoing, historians are still trying to figure out just how many historic structures have been lost in the Mississippi coastal region.
One small allocation from the historical grant went to fund the restoration of the Steamboat House, a home built in the 19th century to resemble a steamboat, and an important African American home in the area. Other projects will be restoring mansions, train depots, a Masonic temple, historic downtown districts, theaters, and cemeteries.
Sources:
Rebuilding Lives, Revitalizing Communities. (2010) FEMA.
Millions More Needed to Restore Historic Buildings Lost During Katrina. (2010) Phoebe Judge. MPB News.
MDAH CLG Grants 2009. (2009) Preservation in Mississippi.