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William Anderson Museum of Art

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Attraction | "Local Legend Leaves Legacy to the Gulf Coast"

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Walter Anderson (1903-1965) was a highly productive artist who battle mental problems off and on. Well educated and married to a Vassar graduate, he first worked for his brother at Shearwater Pottery during his Ocean Springs Period. He designed and created molds and the decorations for earthenware. In the 1930's he worked for the Works Progress Administration on mural projects. Many say his murals are his finest work. Diagnosed with schizophrenia he spent years in and out of hospitals. After one episode he returned to his family who were living with his father-in-law in Oldfields a plantation in Gautier. This Oldfields Period was very productive and disciplined. In 1947 Walter ...Read More

Walter Anderson (1903-1965) was a highly productive artist who battle mental problems off and on. Well educated and married to a Vassar graduate, he first worked for his brother at Shearwater Pottery during his Ocean Springs Period. He designed and created molds and the decorations for earthenware. In the 1930's he worked for the Works Progress Administration on mural projects. Many say his murals are his finest work.

Diagnosed with schizophrenia he spent years in and out of hospitals. After one episode he returned to his family who were living with his father-in-law in Oldfields a plantation in Gautier. This Oldfields Period was very productive and disciplined.

In 1947 Walter retreated to a small cottage on the Shearwater property and spent much of his time on Horn Island a barrier island. He lived a hermits life, not even recognizing his children on his few returns to civilization. His art became more and more simplified. His subjects often were dead birds and animals. In the museum is the small hut he lived in which is a a revelation inside. All the walls are painted with murals...a project that grew over the years.

Unfortunately no cameras where allowed, so you need to check out the website to see the style of his art. The galleries displayed framed pictures of his bird paintings. We also saw some of the Shearwater pottery and it was lovely. An artist could have stopped at that point of his career and have a great reputation. My favorite painting on display was "the Road to Oldfields" where the trees along the road seem to be a study in the choreography of repitition. We also could visit the small room with his murals...his last home. The room that most impressed me was the Community Center. Again wall to wall murals, some just decorative, some telling stories. We spent a long time walking around that room.

There is a small gift shop mainly selling prints and a few imprinted items. I bought a tote bag and notecards decorated with Walter's art work. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 20, 2012

William Anderson Museum of Art
510 Washington Ave
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
228-872-3164

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Beauvoir-Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library

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Attraction | "The Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library"

Peeking into the Library/writing pavilion Photo - Beauvoir-Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library, Biloxi, Mississippi

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Jefferson Davis was the first and only president of the Confederate States of America. This home was were he retired to after the surrendering the Richmond Confederate White House. We visited Beauvoir (BOW-Wah) in 2003 and learned it was devastated by Katrina in 2005. The house faired better being built high off the ground,but still massive amounts of reconstruction and restoration were needed.Go on line and check out the photo gallery. At the time of this writing the house was back in operation as a tourist attraction and the Library was scheduled to be open in the Spring of 2012. I do not know what is in the Presidential Library now, but if the same staff are on board as before, it shou...Read More

Jefferson Davis was the first and only president of the Confederate States of America. This home was were he retired to after the surrendering the Richmond Confederate White House. We visited Beauvoir (BOW-Wah) in 2003 and learned it was devastated by Katrina in 2005. The house faired better being built high off the ground,but still massive amounts of reconstruction and restoration were needed.Go on line and check out the photo gallery. At the time of this writing the house was back in operation as a tourist attraction and the Library was scheduled to be open in the Spring of 2012.

I do not know what is in the Presidential Library now, but if the same staff are on board as before, it should be excellant. We saw displays about Jeff Davis's early years. He was the 13 and final child and his middle name is Finis. What a hoot! His older brother became his surrogate father after the Elder Davis died. This brother forced Jeff to attend West Point where he was an unhappy miserable student. He did become fast friends with another student from Iowa. How odd it is that they remained friends through correspondense throughout the Civil War. Other displays highlighted Davis' career as an elected official to the US Congress.The most memorable display concerned his funeral. He died while visiting New Orleans, and they know how to throw a funeral in that city.

Before entering the house we stopped to peek in windows of a small building that was Jeff Davis' library/writing pavilion. We saw the desk where he labored over his memoirs. He lingered on this project for a very long time and only sold a few copies. On the other hand his wife wrote a biography of him that became a best seller. After his death she was hired by the Pulitzer Publishers as a writer. Jeff's first wife was the daughter of Zachary Taylor (future president of the USA). She died of malaria shortly after the wedding.

The house is a fine example of Gulf Coast style. It has a large covered and columned veranda and the main entrance is at the top of a long flight of steps. We waited in rocking chairs on the porch for the next tour to start. Heavenly! The view of the Gulf and the beautiful Spanish moss draped live oaks was worth the trip here. Inside we stood in a long wide hall that was trimmed in light blue and gold. Four rooms could be accessed from this hall. On the West were two parlors. On the East were two rooms restored as memorials to the two suriving Davis daughters. The house was unique for its era as it had five clostets. To cool the house the front and back doors were opene to catch the lovely gulf breeze. To access the other four rooms of the main house you had to step out on the back veranda. Two additional wings doubled the size of the original house. One wing was a suite for Jeff and Varina. The other was a formal dining room and children's playroom. The exterior boasted white painted siding and dark green shutters. A large cistern was outside the rear entrance.
It is important to note that this house was a gift to Davis from a wealthy intellectual widow. The styles and furnishings reflected her tastes rather that theirs. With that in mind I still find the man a mystery. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 20, 2012

Beauvoir-Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library
2244 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, Mississippi 39531
(228) 388 4400

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Casino Hopping in Biloxi

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Animated Ice Skaters Photo - Biloxi, Mississippi

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We stayed at the Treasure Bay and played the slots there as well. But one afternoon we went in search of other games to play and sights to see.Our first stop was at the Beau Rivage. This place, located on the shore, made our hotel look very plain-Jane. The decor is more overblown, like you see in Las Vegas. In the lobby they had made effort to remind us Northerners that snow scenes were considered exotic here. Each of the snow and flower displays had a mechanicaly animated figure, such as ice skaters. We did like the fact that there were more shops here and a very good coffee house called Roasted Bean. The game floor was active and the players seemed to be having more fun than at Treasure ...Read More

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Darwell's Cafe

Restaurant | "You'll do well if you go to Darwell's"

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Before GPS we never would have found this place on our own. Luckily we were being lead on a tour of the area by a transplant who was eager to show off why she loved the place. We share the love of a local favorite in our home town. We asked to go for supper to a place that would be rated a local favorite here. She came up with Darwell's Cafe in Long Beach. All the towns along the coast blend together to visitors, I consider the whole stretch Greater Biloxi, but you could just as well say Greater Gulfport or Greater Bay St. Louis. Long Beach is somewhere in the middle. It helps if you know what you want before you enter Darwell's. There is a very large chalkboard menu. Many selections, BBQ,...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 17, 2012

Darwell's Cafe
127 East First Street
Long Beach, Mississippi 39560

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Treasure Bay Casino Resort

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Hotel | "Relocated across the street."

POSH bath at Treasure Bay Photo - Treasure Bay Casino Resort, Biloxi, Mississippi

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On our previous trip, this resort casino was on the beach and looked like a ship. It was lively on the floor, but a little short on eating opportunities. We did not stay in the rooms, so I have no comparison. Since Katrina destroyed the complex it was rebuilt across the highway. Our hotel room had a balcony view of the Gulf that should have been spectacular. What luck! The three nights we stayed here the Coast was socked in with a rare fog. Our view from the window only hinted that there was a shoreline. What we could see was typical of the post-hurricane Gulf Coast. There were many open spaces. The rubble had been cleared from most lots, but new construction is slower in growth that the local weed po...Read More

On our previous trip, this resort casino was on the beach and looked like a ship. It was lively on the floor, but a little short on eating opportunities. We did not stay in the rooms, so I have no comparison. Since Katrina destroyed the complex it was rebuilt across the highway. Our hotel room had a balcony view of the Gulf that should have been spectacular. What luck! The three nights we stayed here the Coast was socked in with a rare fog. Our view from the window only hinted that there was a shoreline. What we could see was typical of the post-hurricane Gulf Coast. There were many open spaces. The rubble had been cleared from most lots, but new construction is slower in growth that the local weed population. Residential areas aren't as fast to snap back as the casino row. I guess the idea is to get the income generating properties back first to help everyone.

Our room was comfortable and there was a luxurious bath complete with cable TV. I love it, just like home I can watch Letterman or the Today Show while freshening up! There was one flaw. Not enough chairs in the room. We supplimented with chairs from the balcony. Our bellman remembered our request for bottled water when checking in and made sure we were well stocked.

We ate at two restaurants in the Casino. The Den was most to our preference with table service, attentive wait staff and variety of menu. Although I normally avoid buffets, the senior day rate at The Infinity Buffet was way too tempting. I was amazed at the line up when we stepped off the elevator. This is a very popular event. Found out why. The food was very good and the price was amazingly low. There were two other restaurants we didn't have time to try. CQ was a high end restaurant and not open when we were in house. Aqua is by the poolside,

The gambling was found on two floors of the hotel and seemed a little drab. Neither the decor or staff livened the atmosphere. Another problem with the hotel was the air flow. Whenever we stepped into the elevator we were surrounded by odor du jour. Sometimes it was pleasant, like bacon or steaks on the grill. But often it was cigarette smoke, or strong cleansers. Our rooms and hallways were ok, it was just the elevators. There was a sundry shop but often was closed. When researching for the trip we decided on this hotel-casino due to location/price ratio. Other casino's we visited were more glamorous or fun. However, this one supplied our needs and located us near other attractions. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on April 17, 2012

Treasure Bay Casino Resort
1980 BEACH BLVD
Biloxi, Mississippi 39531
1-800-747-2839

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