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

Civil Rights Wade-Ins

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 9, 2024

1. Civil Rights Wade-Ins Marker (replacement)

Inscription. On May 14, 1959, April 24, 1960, and June 23, 1963, the Biloxi beach front was the site of planned civil rights wade-ins demanding equal access to the public beach. On April 24, 1960, several citizens, both black and white, were injured and arrested, including the leader of the wade-ins, physician Dr. Gilbert R. Mason Sr. This series of protests gave birth to the Biloxi branch of the NAACP, major voter registration drives in 1960, and a 1968 federal court ruling opening the beach to all citizens.

Lower marker:
Sponsored by Sigma Pi Phi Boulé

Erected 2021 by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 14, 1959.

Location. 30° 23.636′ N, 88° 54.098′ W. Marker is in Biloxi, Mississippi, in Harrison County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 90 and Porter Avenue, on the right when traveling east on U.S. 90. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1050 Beach Blvd, 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 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Design for Future Beach Wade-In Memorial (here, next to this marker); Middle Passage to Biloxi

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(a few steps from this marker); Sea Turtles of the Mississippi Sound (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Biloxi Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); A love letter to Biloxi (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Biloxi Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Astronaut Fred Haise (within shouting distance of this marker); The Story of Apollo 13 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Biloxi.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Landing of Pierre LeMoyne D'Iberville (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Biloxi Beach Wade-In (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Biloxi Lighthouse (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Biloxi Lighthouse (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Additional commentary.
1. Replacement

Civil Rights Wade-Ins Marker - old marker that was replaced image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 5, 2013

2. Civil Rights Wade-Ins Marker - old marker that was replaced

marker installed for one destroyed by Hurricane Zeta.
This marker was destroyed during Hurricane Zeta in October of 2020. A replacement marker was just installed on Feb 22, 2022 through the sponsorship of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The original marker was installed in 2009.

— Submitted February 23, 2022, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 9, 2024

3. Civil Rights Wade-Ins Marker (replacement)

Featured marker is on the right.

Civil Rights Wade-Ins Marker on left at beach. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 22, 2017

4. Civil Rights Wade-Ins Marker on left at beach.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, January 25, 2017

5. Civil Rights Wade-Ins Marker - old marker that was replaced

Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,330 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on September 6, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3. submitted on March 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on January 3, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 5. submitted on January 3, 2018, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.