Stroll through history when you visit the Biloxi City Cemetery, which is known by many locals as Old Biloxi Cemetery. Discover hundreds of ancient tombstones and ornate New Orleans-style graves as you wander along the quiet pathways. See the final resting places of notable Biloxi residents at this historic cemetery.
Facing the Mississippi Sound, the cemetery has sections intersected by lanes and decorated with old oak trees and Spanish moss. Many of the tombstones date back to the 1800s, with the oldest being that of Michel Batet, a Marseilles native who passed away in 1811.
Note the presence of above-ground graves that resemble the crypts found in the graveyards of New Orleans. Like the Big Easy, Biloxi is prone to flooding, which makes underground burials difficult.
Celebrities and honorable citizens of Biloxi lay interred around the cemetery. Among the buried are seafood canning entrepreneur Lazaro Lopez and Brigadier General Joseph Robert Davis, the nephew of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Look for the tomb of the Mad Hatter of BiloxiGeorge Ohr, a pioneer of abstract expressionist art in the United States. Also here is Edward Barq, the inventor of Barq’s root beer.
Pick up an information booklet from the nearby Biloxi Visitors Center and set out on a grave-spotting adventure. Alternatively, plan your visit in October for the free annual guided tour. During the event, costumed characters portray some of the cemetery’s best-known residents. Hear stories about their lives, work and eccentricities.
The graveyard is a short walk north of Biloxi Beach and about a 5-minute drive from downtown Biloxi. If you are arriving by car, park for free at Biloxi Beach and Biloxi Visitors Center and then continue by foot.
Biloxi City Cemetery is open daily and admission is free. The site remains an active place of remembrance so respect the privacy of mourners and be mindful when taking photographs. Ask at the visitors center for more information about the annual tour.
