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

French Colonial Memorial Garden

Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 22, 2017

1. French Colonial Memorial Garden Marker

Inscription. In the early 1700's, "New Biloxi" served as a staging ground for thousands of European immigrants brought over to work the inland concessions. This cemetery had first been revealed in 1969 after Hurricane Camille and was fully exposed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Archaeological and bio-archaeological investigations conducted between 2007 and 2009 by the University of Southern Mississippi yielded approximately 30 male skeletal remains. This discovery signified this site as the oldest French Colonial cemetery in the South and second oldest in the United States. On December 20, 2013 these European descents were reinterred to their original resting ground.

Erected 2017 by the City of Biloxi.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Disasters • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is December 20, 2013.

Location. 30° 23.72′ N, 88° 54.093′ W. Marker is in Biloxi, Mississippi, in Harrison County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Porter Avenue and Beach Boulevard (Highway 90). Located within the memorial garden area of the Biloxi Visitors Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1050 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi MS 39530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

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. Archaeological Findings (here, next to this marker); The Memorial Garden (a few steps from this marker); The Moran Site History (a few steps from this marker); Moran Site (a few steps from this marker); Pierre LeMoyne Sieur d'Iberville (within shouting distance of this marker); Essence of Biloxi (within shouting distance of this marker); High Water Mark (within shouting distance of this marker); The Evolution of Biloxi Tourism (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Biloxi.

More about this marker. This Garden was created with Federal funds awarded to the City of Biloxi through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program the statue was funded by the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area.

View of Memorial in the garden. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 22, 2017

2. View of Memorial in the garden.

French Colonial Memorial Garden statue. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 22, 2017

3. French Colonial Memorial Garden statue.

The marble statue of a weeping angel was commissioned to memorialize the remains of 32 French servants that were discovered during two excavations. The sculpture was sculpted by an Italian artist in Carrara, Italy,

French Colonial Memorial Garden (rear side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 22, 2017

4. French Colonial Memorial Garden (rear side)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 344 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 25, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.