Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs. The City of Discovery. , Ocean Springs is known as The City of Discovery in recognition of its history as the original French settlement established in 1699 along the northern Gulf of Mexico, led by Pierre LeMoyne Sieur d'Iberville., Situated safely on the eastern shore of Biloxi Bay at the heart of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the location offered explorers shade under huge Live Oak trees, shallow waters, and a variety of trees for timber. From this settlement location, three other cities would be established as well: New Orleans, Pascagoula, and Mobile. Before the French arrived, this area was appreciated for its beauty and natural resources by Native Americans, who believed the curative mineral springs in the area to be holy. When these mineral springs were discovered again by area settlers in the mid-1800s, they brought significant economic growth to the area. Tourists arrived at the foot of Washington and Jackson Avenues by steamers, schooner and paddle wheelers from New Orleans, seeking health benefits of the springs, the seawater and the cooling breezes of the Gulf. Years later when the railroad arrived, the area's natural beauty and health benefits caused tourism to grow even more. Over the history of this community, the natural resources so abundant to the area have attracted a diverse stream of people. Combining those natural resources with a rich local history and character flavored by influences of the past 300 years, and you have unique and charming Ocean Springs., This informational sign is part of a community project led by the Historic Ocean Springs Association, and is made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area. , We thank the City of Ocean Springs for their support of this project.