See living history at the Biloxi Visitors Center

History Week is now underway at the Biloxi Visitors Center and you’re invited to drop by between now and Saturday.

The Mississippi Coast Historical & Genealogical Society is sponsoring the 25th annual Mississippi Coast History Week, which features a number of exhibits celebrating the anniversary of the Feb. 13, 1699 landing of d’Iberville on the coast of present-day Biloxi. The explorer’s French Flotilla anchored off Ship Island and came ashore to explore the mainland.

History Week, which is co-sponsored by the City of Biloxi and the Biloxi Public Library, is free and open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day.  A  reception will be held Saturday at noon, but you’ll also find events each day.

This afternoon at 3:30, the Biloxi Library History and Genealogy Department will have present “The Healing Arts:  The Medical History of Biloxi.”  Then at 5:30, author Dale Greenwell will sign copies of his latest opus, “Images of America: D’Iberville/St. Martin.”

On Friday at 1:30 p.m., visitors will share a birthday cake and refreshments to mark the actual 316th anniversary of the Landing of d’Iberville.

Among the groups with exhibits at the Visitors Center for History Week this year are Biloxi Main Street, Preserve Biloxi, Gulf Coast Jewish Community, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Fleur de Lis Ladies Society, Slavic/Croatian Cultural Society, Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Biloxi Fire Museum, Gulf Park College, Hibernia Society, Department of Marine Resources and Biloxi Public Schools.

The event also will feature the Historical Society of Gulfport, the Long Beach Historical Society, and the Hancock County Historical Society.  The  Local History and Genealogy Department of the Biloxi Public Library also will be offering advice on genealogy research.
See photos from the 2012 history weekÂ