When the first French colonists arrived in 1699 to what they would call Billocsi after the local Native America tribe they found there, the area now known as Biloxi, Mississippi, has always been a popular landing spot for explorers and fishermen alike.

The sleepy little Mississippi port really didn’t come into its own, however, until the early 19th century, and even then there were few Mississippians that lived along the coast. Those that did live there eked out a living as fisherman, supplying the local population with some of the most succulent shrimp and plumpest oysters that mankind had ever tasted.

Still, no matter how succulent the shrimp and plump the oysters, fishermen still made little money because they couldn’t ship their catches very far without fear of it spoiling. Three things would change all that by the mid-1800s: the coming of the railroad, the invention of artificial ice, and the acumen of a few local Biloxi businessmen.

Mississippi’s Cannery Row

In 1872 the L&N Railroad established Biloxi as a flag stop on its line that ran the Gulf Coast from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans, Louisiana. Around the same time, machines were invented that would make artificial ice for refrigeration and keep food from spoiling so quickly.

Seeing this as an opportunity, Biloxi businessmen Lazaro Lopez, F. William Elmer, W. K. M. Dukate, William Gorenflo, and James Maycock collectively brought together $8,000 and opened the first oyster packing business in Biloxi – Lopez, Elmer & Company – in 1881. Located on Back Bay Biloxi’s Reynoir Street, they canned not only oysters, but also shrimp, and even sold raw oysters in bulk, all supplied by the abundant waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Biloxi Bohemians

After taking a trip to Baltimore, Maryland to learn more about the seafood industry, W. K. M. Dukate was impressed by the work ethic of the Bohemian immigrants working in the industry there. As a result, Dukate and his partners worked out a way to transport some of the Bohemian workers from Baltimore to Biloxi, and the first workers arrived on January 11, 1890. The workers lived in rows of little shotgun shacks built for them by Biloxi factory owners. Though they weren’t paid much, the Bohemians would continue to migrate to Biloxi for the next 28 years and become a great benefit to the Biloxi seafood industry.

When the Bohemians first arrived in there in 1890, Biloxi canneries were processing two million pounds of oysters and 614,000 pounds of shrimp a year. Those numbers would triple just two years later with a dozen canneries reporting a combined catch of nearly six million pounds of oysters and 4.5 million pounds of shrimp. With a population of around 8,000 people, Biloxi was processing so much seafood in 1903 that it became known as the “The Seafood Capital of the World.”

By 1930, Biloxi’s canneries reported that 20,000,000 cans of oysters and shrimp and 17,000 gallons of raw oysters had been shipped out of the city that year. That same year, local citizens got together and created the Seafood Festival to honor the importance of the industry to Biloxi and the vital part it played in the economy of the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy as well as the cultural fabric of Biloxi.

 

Biloxi Today

When the state legalized casino gambling in the 1990s, it seemed that the high-rise, high-rolling resorts would begin to overshadow the seafood industry. In fact, with the influx of construction crews, hospitality workers, and tourist gamblers, the new gold rush instead helped to stabilize the seafood business, with casino kitchens understanding the value of this fresh, local food source. Although it may no longer be the Seafood Capital of the World it was 100 years ago, the seafood industry still plays a big part in Biloxi today.

While shifting industries, populations, and hurricanes have all had an impact on Biloxi’s seafood production, the most consistent champion for the business has been the presence of local families devoted to the cause. Local history museums are loaded with stories of generations of these families involved in seafood.

Surnames as diverse as Lesso, Mavar, Rosetti, Gallott (responsible for ushering in the area’s Vietnamese fisherfolk), and Desporte stretch way back, some to the mid-1800s and are still essential players in harvesting, packaging, shipping, retail, and restaurants today. Thanks to this solid family backbone, Biloxi’s seafood processors are some of the largest in the country, with clients spread across the globe.

Plus, the annual Biloxi Seafood Festival continues to celebrate the city’s rich culture, heritage, and connection to the seafood industry. The event is held every year on the second weekend of September, and attendees come from all over to enjoy live entertainment, arts & crafts, kids activities, and some of the best seafood on the Gulf Coast.

See ’Em at the Museum

So by now you’re probably wondering how I know all of this stuff about Biloxi. Well, I learned it by exploring the 300 years of history, heritage, and culture that you can find at Biloxi’s Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum.

Over six galleries at the museum take you from the diverse environment of the Mississippi coastal wetlands, to an exhibit on canning factories, to a giant hall filled with some of the most beautiful wooden boats and schooners to ever sail Mississippi’s abundant Gulf waters.

If you’re feeling a little more “hands-on,” then it’s all hands on deck at the museum which offers chartered cruises aboard local schooners for up to 44 people. For the landlubbers among you, they also offer “Walk on Sail” tours, where weekly Sea & Sail Adventure summer camps are also available for your little mariners aged 6 to 12 to learn about sailing a schooner, boating safety, and the rules of the sea. 🌊

More of a roadtripper than a seafarer, Stephanie Stuckey is the CEO of Stuckey’s, the iconic roadside stop that’s been selling pecans and pecan treats since 1937.

If You’re Going, Go! Gulf States & Stuckey’s

Are you planning a road trip to Coastal Mississippi or just passing through? Then check out more fun things to see and do along America’s Third Coast at Go! Gulf States.

No matter where you’re going in the Gulf States this season, be sure to take Stuckey’s along with you. We’ve got all of your favorite road trip snacks like our iconic Stuckey’s Pecan Log Rolls and Pecan Pralines.

If it’s along America’s third coast, let Go! Gulf States and Stuckey’s help get you where you’re going.

Stuckey’s – We’re Making Road Trips  Fun Again!

The post When Biloxi Was the Seafood Capital of the World appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Through their partnership with Plastic Free Gulf Coast, Biloxi Main Street Association has committed to Skip the Plastic wherever and whenever they can. Each year, coinciding with the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, the association’s annual Grillin’ on the Green BBQ event is now a whole lot greener!    – Editor

Every year on Saint Patrick’s Day Biloxi Main Street hosts Grillin’ on the Green. BBQ teams from all over the region come to the Biloxi Town Green to compete for prize money and serve up everything from chicken, ribs, and brisket to seafood. Thanks to the collaboration of Biloxi Main Street and Plastic Free Gulf Coast, the annual Grillin’ on the Green became the first major public event in Biloxi to start the move away from plastic.

The post Biloxi Main Steet’s Grillin’ on the Green Is Another Plastic-Free Success Story appeared first on Go Gulf States.

We at Go! Gulf States choose to cover NASA in this decade and do the other things not just because they are cool, but because so much of what they do happens in Gulf states. Because that goal will show how much work toward our race for space occurs right here along the Gulf Coast. And because that challenge is one that we’re willing to accept. – Editor

Four astronauts are busy training for Artemis II, the first mission to carry humans on NASA’s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft. They’ve been testing systems to support life in deep space on future Moon missions and expanding the space frontier beyond Earth orbit.

In August, the crew – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen – finished the first part of their training known as fundamentals, establishing a foundational knowledge of all SLS and Orion systems.

Home Sweet Space

The quartet began the process of learning every inch of their Orion crew module’s interior, which will serve as their home for the approximately 10-day flight test. They reviewed the building blocks for navigating the spacecraft’s displays and executing the procedures they will use to fly and monitor Orion. While some training activities included all four crew members together, other activities involved one-on-one sessions with trainers.

“The crew is making incredible progress. They’re getting ready for their flight as the first people to fly inside NASA’s newest spacecraft built for deep space,” said Jacki Mahaffey, chief training officer for Artemis II, based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Their training is preparing them to do everything from planned mission tasks and daily operations, to how to recognize and deal with unexpected situations.”

The post Artemis Crew Trains for Moon Mission Across 3 Gulf States… and Beyond appeared first on Go Gulf States.

As the summer sets along the Gulf Coast and family minivans beat a hasty retreat for the school year, coastal Mississippi nightlife comes alive with the sound of shuffling cards, slot machine payoffs, and even some classic rock legends. Patti Labelle, Chicago, Ginuwine, Marshall Tucker Band, and the coast’s the Chee Weez and DJ Hyphee are all on tap with shows through late summer and fall. This casino round-up kicks off with one resort from the top NW corner of the state in the Delta, but ultimately reveals how dense the cluster of fun gaming options is along Mississippi beaches.  – Editor

The state of Mississippi has always had a relatively progressive attitude toward gambling, with the location boasting far more commercial casino resorts than similar southeastern states.

Not only this, but Mississippi was also one of the first states to launch sports betting after the decision to overturn the PAPSA legislation in May 2018. Sure, state law only currently allows online gameplay while on-site at a licensed brick-and-mortar gambling facility, but this could change at some point in the future.

Here are some of the best locations and reasons why they’re so popular.

The post It’s a Good Time to Get Your Game on Along the Mississippi Coast appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Last week marked the passing of vaunted Southern author, Willie Morris. Among his many encounters with literary success, a number of his works were made into motion pictures: ‘My Dog Skip,’ ‘The Ghosts of Medgar Evers,’ and ‘Good Old Boy: A Delta Boyhood’ (aka ‘River Pirates’). His son, David Rae creates his own photographic and filmic legacy while carrying on that of his father. In this 2018 piece, Via NOLA Vie’s Fowell Dunbar visits with the artist in his studio  – Editor

Willie Morris, the acclaimed author and publisher from Yazoo City, Mississippi, spent a lifetime spinning yarns about his home state. In works like My Dog Skip and North Toward Home, he captures the region’s unique people, places and events, warts and all. Like William Faulkner and Shelby Foote, he grapples with what he called ”the old warring impulses of one’s sensibility to be both Southern and American.”

His son, David Rae Morris, who lives in New Orleans, chose to tell a similar story, only using different mediums, including still images and video. Over the years, he has photographed the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf oil spill, Saints fanatics at Vaughn’s Lounge, jazz musicians, Mardi Gras revelers, athletes, local celebrities, friends and fellow artists. Most recently, he ventured up to his father’s old stompin’ grounds to shoot the documentary, Yazoo Revisited, which explores the legacy of segregation and integration in the Mississippi Delta.

According to David, “Both New Orleans and Mississippi are very complicated. They are suffused with both history and beauty, but at the same time, tragedy and cruelty. They are a photographer and filmmaker’s dream.”

The post Words & Photos, Like Father, Like Son: Willie & David Rae Morris appeared first on Go Gulf States.

From the cannon perspective, Fort Massachusetts, Ship Island, Mississippi, Photo by NPS/Bernstiel

Ship and Horn Islands, managed by Gulf Islands National Seashore, were accepted into the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program on September 29, 2022.

The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom is a federal program that commemorates the stories of the men and women who risked everything for freedom and those who helped them. It honors, preserves, and promotes the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight worldwide. Through its mission, the Network to Freedom helps to advance the idea that all human beings embrace the right to self-determination and freedom from oppression.

“The designation of Horn and Ship Island presents us with further opportunity to tell the inspirational, yet difficult stories of enslaved individuals struggle for freedom,” said Superintendent Darrell Echols. “Gulf Islands National Seashore is honored to be in a position to bring these powerful and previously seldom told stories to this and future generations of visitors.”

The post Gulf Islands Accepted as New Sites in Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Not so fast! Coastal Mississippi isn’t finished with its summer season just yet. As temperatures cool off, the region’s events and activities heat up.

As the August heat subsides, and we get that inkling of fall weather attempting to arrive, it’s the perfect time to fit in a last-minute beach vacation. Summer never ends on the South’s secret coast of Mississippi. With charming towns like Ocean Springs, Pass Christian, and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi’s coast is a quirky hidden gem.

The post It’s an Endless Summer on the Secret Coast appeared first on Go Gulf States.

This initiative between Plastic Free Gulf Coast and a group of two restaurants in Biloxi and Ocean Springs, Mississippi is but one of the success stories in sustainability touted by the coastal non-profit. – Editor

The Greenhouse on Porter opened its doors in January 2015 with the goal of creating a space to support the community. In doing so, one of the many goals was and still is to use as little plastic as possible.

The Greenhouse serves to-go food in bakery boxes, paper bags, and soy-based deli paper. Cups for hot drinks are paper with plant-based lids, and cold cups are also plant-based material. For a while, they used straws made with hay, and have recently found plant-based sip lids which require no straws at all.

The post Plastic Free Ways Biloxi Is Getting Greener with the Greenhouse appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Fans of Stuckey’s social media know that CEO Stephanie Stuckey is a non-stop roadtrippin’ dynamo covering miles and miles of American roadside attractions, food, and fun – old and new. Here, Stephanie recommends a few fab stops to seek out in Mississippi. Keep your eyes peeled here for more, including a Go! Gulf States exclusive from Stephanie about coastal Mississippi in the coming weeks.  – Editor

Do you prefer your roadside attractions to be a little offbeat … and a little off the beaten path? Then you’ll love Mississippi, where you’ll find everything from the birthplace of Kermit the Frog, to a very creepy bridge, to a village of hope founded by Sela Ward which boasts a statue of Colonel Sanders, to the place claiming to have the best BLT in the world.

Here are a few ideas to get you started on your Mississippi road trip:

Apparently not content with being the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s largest souvenir and gift shop, the owners of a Biloxi biz felt it needed something a little more, so they added a 32-foot-tall shark’s head and changed its name to … well… Sharkheads!  Since then, the more-than-grinning Great White has been a “must-see” (and must-selfie) for those visiting the Mississippi coast.

Head northwest from Biloxi about an hour and 45 minutes for the ultimate 80s nostalgia trip. Damon Breland’s passion for collecting and restoring The Rock-afire Explosion’s animated characters has resulted in “one of the few existing, fully functional Showbiz Pizza animatronic shows in the world.” You’ll find it at Smitty’s Super Service Station – by appointment only.

The post Get Off the Beaten Path to See Fascinating and Unusual Spots in Mississippi appeared first on Go Gulf States.

The inspiration for this drink was drawn from the coast’s unique vibe and feel. Catherine “Cat” Ryan used to manage the Seersucker Bar at Bacchus on the Beach. Regulars often referred to the outdoor bar as “Cat Island” in her honor. Cat Island is also the name of one of Mississippi’s barrier island. Ryan created this cocktail – a blend of rum, mango, mint and lime – while watching the sunset over the Mississippi Sound at the “Cat Island” bar.

Click through to the original article for the full recipe.

The post Coastal Cocktail Recipe: Cat Island Cruiser appeared first on Go Gulf States.