The Mississippi Coast Historical & Genealogical Society will sponsor the 17th annual
Mississippi Coast History Week Feb. 11-17, with a host of events at the Donal Synder Community Center in west Biloxi.
The celebration, according to Mary Adkinson, one of its organizers, is especially important since it was not conducted last year in the wake of Katrina, and because Feb. 13, 2007 will mark the 308th anniversary of the landing of d’Iberville on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The French flotilla anchored off Ship Island on Feb. 10, 1699. After exploring Ship Island, d’Iberville and his men set out on February 13 , 1699 to explore the mainland. D’Iberville landed on the shores of present-day Biloxi.
To mark Biloxi’s birthday, the Most Rev. Thomas J. Rodi, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, will celebrate a Mass on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m., at the Donal Snyder Community Center,
History Week will feature three days of history with re-enactors dressed in 18th Century
reproduction French clothing. Among the attractions: a presentation on French Colonial soldiers
and their contacts with Gulf Coast Indians; a portrayal of the life of a 18th century French lady; and a display of foods growing here when the French arrived.
The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum will have demonstrations relating to the
seafood industry, and the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art also will be represented. The Local History & Genealogy Department of the Biloxi Library will explain the making of Family Tree charts.
The public is invited to attend the presentations at Donal Snyder Community Center,
2520 Pass Road, Biloxi on Monday February 12th, Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.. There is no admission.
School groups are encouraged to attend. For scheduling school groups or for more information, please call Mary Louise Adkinson at 388-5696 or mladkinson@bellsouth.net
