Page 29 - Play Coastal Mississippi - Spring & Summer, 2026

4. HISTORIC LOGTOWN
Once one of the largest towns in Hancock County, Historic Logtown thrived in the 19th century as a lumber and trade center along the Pearl River. Its proximity to the water made it a hub of commerce during Mississippi’s early statehood years. Today, Logtown exists as an archaeological site and historic district, where markers and preserved spaces tell the story of a once-bustling community.
> Fort Massachusetts | Coastal Mississippi & RPF Media 5
5. FORT MASSACHUSETTS
Construction of Fort Massachusetts began in the 1850s on Ship Island, but its strategic importance became clear during the Civil War. On July 9, 1861, the Union Navy’s USS Massachusetts exchanged fire with Confederate forces in a 20-minute battle that marked a significant early conflict in the state. Today, the fort is accessible by the Ship Island ferry as part of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
A COAST 250 YEARS IN THE MAKING
From colonial forts to cultural halls, from lighthouses to lost towns, Coastal Mississippi reflects the many layers of America’s journey. These places existed before the United States was formed, witnessed its defining conflicts and continue to shape its future.
> Biloxi Lighthouse Coastal Mississippi & RPF Media
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Completed in 1848, the Biloxi Lighthouse has stood watch over the Mississippi Sound for more than 175 years. It guided ships through bustling Gulf waters, survived the Civil War and endured some of the most powerful hurricanes in American history. Today, the lighthouse remains one of the most photographed landmarks in the state.
> Historic Logtown | Wildlife Mississippi 4
6. BILOXI LIGHTHOUSE
AMERICA
As we look toward America 250, Coastal Mississippi invites visitors to explore history not as something confined to textbooks, but as something tangible—a place you can walk through, stand beside and experience firsthand.
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COASTALMISSISSIPPI.COM SPRING/SUMMER 2026 I PLAY COASTAL MISSISSIPPI 29