Biloxi in Harrison County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
Biloxi City Park & Welcome Sign
Historic Biloxi
Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 22, 2017
1. Biloxi City Park & Welcome Sign Marker
Inscription.
Biloxi City Park and Welcome Sign. . This Biloxi welcome arch originally stood at the northeast entrance of Biloxi's old City Park, which was on the northwest corner of Reynoir Street and south of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot. The Biloxi Commercial Club and the City of Biloxi worked together to create the park, which opened in 1911 on the land leased from the railroad company. The park was a hub of activity throughout the early 20th Century Band concerts, political rallies, and patriotic celebrations were enjoyed by the public and the park was open to private and organizational picnics, dances, and other social gatherings., In 1915, the Biloxi Park Commission elected to advertise the city by erecting an electric sign that could be seen from passing trains. City officials flipped the switch on December 27, 1915, and "BILOXI" was brilliantly introduced to the traveling world. The great arch welcomed Northern tourists called "snowbirds," who found a winter haven in Biloxi, as well as summer tourists seeking the cool breezes of the Gulf of Mexico. The railroad company donated the land to the city of Biloxi in 1916., The development of highways and the increase in automobile travel resulted in the decrease of passenger train travel. Use of the city park decreased during the years of the Great Depression, and the sign's electricity was finally disconnected. The city sold the park property in 1965, and the arch stood derelict. In 2000, the arch was moved to the Town Green where it welcomes new generations of travelers.
This Biloxi welcome arch originally stood at the northeast entrance of Biloxi's old City Park, which was on the northwest corner of Reynoir Street and south of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot. The Biloxi Commercial Club and the City of Biloxi worked together to create the park, which opened in 1911 on the land leased from the railroad company. The park was a hub of activity throughout the early 20th Century Band concerts, political rallies, and patriotic celebrations were enjoyed by the public and the park was open to private and organizational picnics, dances, and other social gatherings.
In 1915, the Biloxi Park Commission elected to advertise the city by erecting an
electric sign that could be seen from passing trains. City officials flipped the switch
on December 27, 1915, and "BILOXI" was brilliantly introduced to the traveling world. The great arch welcomed Northern tourists called "snowbirds," who found a winter haven in Biloxi, as well as summer tourists seeking the cool breezes of the Gulf of Mexico. The railroad company donated the land to the city of Biloxi in 1916.
The development of highways
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and the increase in automobile travel resulted in the
decrease of passenger train travel. Use of the city park decreased during the years of the Great Depression, and the sign's electricity was finally disconnected. The city sold the park property in 1965, and the arch stood derelict. In 2000, the arch was moved to the Town Green where it welcomes new generations of travelers.
Location. 30° 23.582′ N, 88° 53.146′ W. Marker is in Biloxi, Mississippi, in Harrison County. It is at the intersection of Beach Boulevard (U.S. 90) and Main Street, on the right when traveling west on Beach Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 133 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi MS 39530, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western
Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 22, 2017
2. Biloxi Welcome Sign & the marker.
Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
3. View of Biloxi sign from rear, looking towards Glennan Park & the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 22, 2017
4. Plaque in the sidewalk below the "Biloxi" sign.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 27, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,154 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 25, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
