Climbing the Biloxi Lighthouse

Saturday we ventured out in our city and joined the American Heart Association and the fight against heart disease and did a heart walk. We walked 114 steps up into the Biloxi Lighthouse for a breathtaking view! It was a nice climb and when we got to the top there was a very informative guide that gave us great information on the history of the light house. It was first built back in 1848 and after the lighthouse keeper died it was up to his widow and daughters to keep the light lit. The ladies would go and haul 2 buckets of whale oil to keep the lights lit and the harbor and ships safe 4 times a night! All I can think of are how huge these women's thighs must have been LOL! Talk about getting your cardio work out too! LOL! The lamp in the lighthouse shines bright for 10 miles and in 1929 was converted for electricity. It is made out of cast iron from Maryland and bricks from the Guflport area. It was brought to Biloxi in sections and put up in less than a years time. It has been destroyed and restored twice; once by Hurricane Camile in 1969 and once by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the left side of the light house and washed away most of the bricks and steps. It sustained 21.9 m.l.s during Hurricane Katrina and took 2.5 million dollars and 4 years to fully restore!

We also toured the Biloxi museum in the visitors center and learned alot about our area and what make it so great. How Biloxi became a melting pot of people, French, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, Irish and German. Biloxi has deep rooted history in our country and is a great example of how the early settlers flourished here amongst the Native Americans. I can't wait till the family comes to visit again so we can take them around and show them. I know my mom (the history buff she is) would love it!

Here's a few shots of our day...

Waiting in line to climb the lighthouse

The lamp and light to the lighthouse.

The spectacular view from the top of the lighthouse.

Inside the museum.

A exhibit on the old Biloxi schooners; made my local fishermen and designed to fish these shallow waters.

A replica of lighthouse and what it looks like inside.

To give you an idea... Katrina's waters came up to the first window you see on the side of the lighthouse. 

The Biloxi visitor center made to look like a Southern Antebellum home. So beautiful.

We indulged in a little Biloxi tradition; a strawberry lemonade snowball. They were first invented here in the South so that people would have a sweet treat to enjoy in during the hot summer months before air conditioning was invented. :)

The kiddo enjoying the afternoon on the Southern Porch... and I sat in a rocker taking this picture with a glass of Southern sweet tea in my hand.