Beauvoir is a historic tract and former summer home of the wealthy planter James Brown and later, Sarah Anne Ellis Dorsey, a noted author. It overlooks the Gulf of Mexico from the Biloxi seafront. Dating back to the mid 1800s, Beauvoir is most notable for being the place where Confederate president Jefferson Davis spent some of his final years. Learn about the life of Davis plus Civil War and Confederate history on guided tours of the estate.
Tour guides walk visitors between the rooms of the elegant Beauvoir mansion, where Jefferson Davis lived with his wife and daughter in the 1880s. While here, Davis wrote The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government. Listen to stories about his life, years as the Confederate president and death. Peek inside rooms decorated with furniture selected by the Davis and Dorsey families.
The rest of the 52-acre (21-hectare) attraction is a self-guided experience. Inside the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and Museum are exhibits and artifacts that retell the story of the Civil War and the Confederacy. See displays of Confederate flags, portraits and weapons. Search military records and browse books that celebrate military history since the American Revolution.
Stroll amid the estate’s leafy lawns to the poignant Beauvoir Memorial Cemetery. It houses Davis family graves, the burial plots of over 700 Confederate veterans and the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier. Stand next to Oyster Bayou, from which Native Americans once sourced shellfish. Admire landscaped Mrs. Varina’s Garden, a recreation of the garden once cared for by Davis’ wife.
The estate stands on Beach Boulevard, in southwestern Biloxi. Drive here in about 10 minutes from downtown. Free parking is available.
Beauvoir is open daily and has an admission fee. A discounted ticket grants entry to the grounds only. Visit the onsite shop for Confederate-themed banknotes, books, license plates and other souvenirs. Check the attraction’s official website for information about annual events that honor Confederate soldiers.