Gulfport in Harrison County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

First Baptist Church, Gulfport

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 9, 2024

1. First Baptist Church, Gulfport Marker

Inscription. Organized in 1896 by Bertha Amis and her half-sister Ruby Thornton, First Baptist Church first met in a rail car in downtown Gulfport. In 1899, a church was built at the corner of 14th Street and 23rd Avenue. The congregation then moved to this beachfront location and constructed a new church in 1915. Badly damaged in Hurricane Camille, it was rebuilt only to be destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. After the congregation relocated further inland, the property was sold to the Gulfport Redevelopment Commission for the Mississippi Aquarium.

Erected 2021 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 30° 22.038′ N, 89° 5.334′ W. Marker is in Gulfport, Mississippi, in Harrison County. Marker is on a frontage road on north side of East Beach Blvd, 0.2 miles west of 20th Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2100 E Beach Blvd, Gulfport MS 39501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 1863 East Pascagoula Raid (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ship Island (approx.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

0.2 miles away); Old Gulfport High School (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Magnolia Route (approx. ¼ mile away); Harrison County Confederate Monument (approx. 0.4 miles away); Kellier-Sternberg House (approx. half a mile away); Gulfport Civil Rights Wade-In (approx. 0.6 miles away); St. Therese Parish Hall (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gulfport.

Also see . . . Our Story. In the months before September 1896, eighteen-year-old Bertha Amis organized and taught a non-denominational Sunday School class for youth. In good weather, the class met under live oak trees and at other times in a railway car that was side-tracked on Sundays. (First Baptist Gulfport) (Submitted on March 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 9, 2024

2. First Baptist Church, Gulfport Marker

First Baptist Church, Gulfport image. Click for full size.

via First Baptist Church Gulfport (Public Domain)

3. First Baptist Church, Gulfport

The church in an undated photo before it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 36 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.