BEAUVOIR MASTER PLAN 2007 - 2012
Beginning January 2007
Introduction
Beauvoir is the last home of Jefferson Davis, the only President of the Confederate States of America.. In late 1902, Varina Davis, widow of Jefferson Davis, sold Beauvoir to the Mississippi Division of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans, with two stipulations. One was that the site be used as a Confederate Soldiers Home for Confederate soldiers and their wives or widows with no cost to them. The other stipulation was that the site be used as a memorial to Jefferson Davis and the Confederate soldier. Those wishes were carried out from 1903 until the present day. Exhibition of the house and a museum was begun in 1941. The Presidential Library was completed in 1998. At various times generalized planning was done for the expansion and future of Beauvoir. Such a plan was developed in 2002 for the extensive development of Botanical Gardens at Beauvoir. Parts of the plan were underway through 2005.
On August 29, 2005, disaster struck Beauvoir and the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the form of Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster to ever hit the United States. Virtually, the entire coastline of Mississippi was destroyed. Five of seven buildings at the Beauvoir site were destroyed and the other two were severely damaged. Beauvoir House lost its front and side porches and two sections of roof.
For the remainder of 2005 and all of 2006, recovery efforts were underway to salvage and recover what remained of the artifacts and collections. Storm debris had to be removed and the site cleaned of litter, flotsam, jetsam, splintered wood, and damaged vegetation. The Beauvoir House and the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library building had to be stabilized and protected. By late fall of 2006, plans and specifications for the repair and reconstruction of Beauvoir House was completed and advertisement for bids proceeded in December. Bids were received on January 9th of 2007.
With the extent of the devastation and damage to the site, it became clear that past planning and development was no longer valid and much of the progress and success of past planning and development had been washed away by the storm or had been rendered impractical. It further became clear that in order for Beauvoir to recover, rebuild, and to guide the development of our future, a new master plan would be needed. That is the purpose of this document.
In May of 2006, a Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Assessment Team consisting of two senior architectural conservators from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Foundation's Vice President for Research and Historic Preservation, a senior historical architect from the National Park Service (Boston office), and four architectural conservators who were trained and employed at Colonial Williamsburg prepared a Damage Assessment and Recovery Plan Report for Beauvoir. The report was prepared at the request of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Period of Signifigance
The Colonial Williamsburg team recommended that a period of significance be established for interpretation of the Beauvoir site. In discussions with the Colonial Williamsburg team, Winterthur advisors, Beauvoir management, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, FEMA and MEMA, it was determined that the primary period of significance for the site should be the period from 1877 – 1889 when Jefferson Davis resided on the property. Secondary periods of significance include the Brown/Dorsey periods (1848 – 1877); the Jefferson Davis Family period (1877 – 1902); the Confederate Soldiers home period (1903 – 1956); and the memorial and Presidential Library period (1957 – present).
Site Development
In exploring the preservation and future redevelopment of Beauvoir, the Colonial Williamsburg report recommended creating at least two distinct zones of use within a natural botanical landscape as the most attractive approach in making the site a desirable destination and insuring the historic significance of the site. The zones would consist of an historic area to the west that would center on the main house, its dependencies and gardens that existed at the time of Davis's tenure, and the Veteran's cemetery. The easterly zone would be the developmental area where the Presidential Library would be expanded to include all visitor facilities, administration and maintenance activities, parking and access to the site. A network of paths and trails through the natural landscape would connect these zones and provide the visitor an opportunity to experience and enjoy a rare oasis along Mississippi's coast.
Based on parts of the previous master plan that were still viable (e.g. Oyster Bayou Restoration, the primitive forest and Bay head swamp , cemetery development , etc.) it became clear that not only should the site be divided into site areas of East and West, but also North and South. With that in mind, four areas of the site should be developed. By referring to the archeology reports of the old eastern side tree line, that line basically divides the property in half going east and west. Starting at that point, Area 1, the primary historic period of significance 1877 – 1889 would include the western part of the property south of the cemetery. Area 2 would include the cemetery lying north of Area 1 and would represent the Soldiers Home period from 1903 – 1957. . The eastern half of the property would contain Area 3, the environmental area of the primitive forest and the Bay head swamp drainage area lest that area containing buildings on the north. The final portion would be Area 4, which would be the modern interpretation area including the JDPL Museum and parking lots south of Area 3 (See site map in the appendix.)
Short Term Goals/Priorities/Initiatives
I. Rebuild and repair Beauvoir House. Construct historic walks and drive. (Estimate January 2007 – June 2008)
II. Rebuild and repair JDPL (Estimate August/September 2007 – September 2009)
III. Rebuild replicas of the Library Pavilion and the Hayes Pavilion (Estimate January 2008 – August 2008)
Long Term Goals/Priorities/Initiatives
IV. Relocate UDC archway to Area 2 in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier and build semi-circle colonnade with 13 columns representing the 13 Southern (Confederate) States. Obtain 42 headstones for the 42 veterans and widows that do not have one [with the help of the UDC and SCV](Estimate February 2007 – December 2012)
V. Build Historic Outbuildings in Area 1 behind the house and on the west side. (Estimate January 2009 – December 2009)
VI. Build Varina’s Historic Botanical Garden in Area 1 in back of the house. (Estimate March 2007 – June 2010)
VII. Build the historic fences, long walk, bridge, and orchards in Area 1 in back of the house and relocate the sundial to center of the garden. (Estimate March 2008 – June 2010).
VIII. Rebuild Director’s Home (Estimate September 2009 – January 2010).
IX. Complete Oyster Bayou Restoration. (Estimate January 2007 – June 2007)
X. Replant Primitive Forrest. (Estimate March 2008 – March 2011)
XI. Request & obtain siege guns from NPS. The guns would be linked to Jefferson Davis’ service as Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce. (Estimate June 2007 – June 2008)
XII. Continue Restoration of Lower Oyster Bayou and environmental areas based on available funding. (Estimate July 2010 – July 2012)
Strategic Differences Between The New and Old Master Plans and Action Items:
1. In the new master plan the site is divided into four historical and usage areas. Areas one and two are historic period areas. Area three is an environmental and nature area and area four is a modern interpretation area.
2. The new master plan abandons the concept of developing Botanical Gardens throughout the entire 52 acre site. Instead, the new master plan concentrates on the restoration and development of Varina’s Historic Botanical (Rose) Garden, kitchen gardens and orchards. Landscaping will be done in each area based upon the area’s use.
3. The new master plan abandons the concept of developing a new main entrance to the property on Beauvoir Road. Instead, the main entrance will continue to be on Highway 90 at the south end of the property where it is now. We will continue to pursue efforts to obtain a red light to be located at the entrance of Beauvoir on Highway 90.
4. The new master plan abandons the concept of developing a new visitor’s center on Beauvoir Road. The visitor center and ticket area will remain within the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library Building.
5. The Confederate Veterans Hospital Building will not be rebuilt. The museum and office space that was in the hospital building will be mitigated and added to the space in the JDPL Building expanding toward the North and Oyster Bayou. The slab of the hospital building would remain and could be used for multi-purposes, picnic area, reception area, etc.
6. The new JDPL Building will consist of 2˝ - 3 floors (depending on how they are counted). The building will be basically inverted with soft areas (theater, offices, and gift shop) located on the first floor and the critical areas (museum, collections, archives, and library) located on the second floor.
7. The utilities (power, HVAC, emergency generator and mechanical facilities) will be located in a penthouse on the roof or third floor area. A second elevator will serve all three floors or areas.
8. This first floor will be wired independent of the other two floors. That way, if another catastrophic storm hits, the first floor could be disconnected and the power and utilities could be available immediately to the other floors.
9. The museum would be operated in one central location as opposed to two locations. The operations would function in one central location instead of operating a visitor’s center separate from the museum. The centralized operations would require less manpower than would be required at two separate facilities.
10. Beauvoir House would be repaired and rebuilt the way it was when Jefferson Davis lived here (1877 – 1889). The two pavilions in the front would be built that way too. The carriage road and the walks in front of the house would be rebuilt as they were when Davis was here. The brick walks would be removed and replaced with shell and limestone. The carriage road would also be built of shell and limestone. The 500 gallon cistern would be rebuilt.
11. The patio area behind the main house and at the foot of the back steps would be rebuilt of bricks as it was when Davis was here.
12. The historic outbuildings in Area 1 behind the main house would be rebuilt as well.
13. The dual dog-trot kitchen (four room structure) would also be reconstructed. The first room on the southeast would be the actual kitchen. The room behind it on the northeast would be a storeroom. These two rooms would be viewable to the public. The two rooms on the west side would be public restrooms. A brick walk would be constructed from the kitchen to the house.
14. The structure to the east of the kitchen would be the Foreman’s House, and it would serve a dual purpose of being a guest cottage.
15. The structure to the east of the Foreman’s House would be the Maids Quarters and could also be utilized as a guest cottage.
16. The structure to the northwest of the main house and west of the kitchen would be the Carpenter’s Shop and Carpenter’s Residence. A security post could be located in the Carpenter’s Residence.
17. West of the Carpenter’s Residence would be the barn with the carriage and harness shop. A carriage road from Beauvoir Road to behind the main house would be built.
18. South of the carriage shop would be the stable.
19. Additional outbuildings of a sheep pen and a chicken house could also be constructed.
20. Exhibits could be located in the kitchen, storeroom, carpenter’s shop, barn, carriage and harness room.
21. Varina’s historic rose garden (approximately 1 acre) and the kitchen gardens (approximately 1 acre) would be rebuilt in the same location and in the same format as described by Varina in her letters to Winnie at Carlsruthe in Germany.
22. The orchards and orange grove would be rebuilt to the way they were when Davis was here. The long walk to the back of the property and railroad would be rebuilt, as well as the foot bridge over the brook area on the long walk.
23. The sundial would be relocated to the center of the rose garden where it was located when Davis lived here.
24. A small vineyard would be developed just north of the brook and south of the Confederate Cemetery.
25. The relocated UDC Arch in the front of the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier would become the new front entrance to the Confederate Cemetery. An Ancestor’s Walk would lead up to and through the Arch into a brick patio area within a Confederate Colonnade in a semi-circle around the Tomb. Each brick could be engraved with the name and unit of Confederate Ancestors. The non-historic Hands-on-USA marker and time capsule would be relocated to Area Four (the modern interpretation area).
26. The Colonnade would consist of 13 columns representing the 13 Southern Confederate States in order of succession from the Union.
27. The Director’s Home would be rebuilt, possible on high ground east of the museum and with a view of both the museum and the mansion.
28. Siege guns obtained from the NPS would be located on either side of the south end of the hospital building slab. Two twelve pound howitzers would be located between the siege guns. Between the siege guns would be located a flag pole with a huge Confederate Flag. All would be fully visible from highway 90 to attract children with their families.
29. The environmental area primitive forest would be replanted to redevelop it the way it was before the storm, including the repairs to the boardwalk in the forest. Nature trails would be completed.
30. Oyster Bayou and the bay-head swamp area would be returned to a natural and historic drainage area similar to the way it was when Davis lived here.
Financial Assessment
Funding for the repairs, restorations and development of the site would be through a combination of state and federal grants, insurance proceeds and through private donations. Business Plans would be developed to ensure the completion of the Master Plan as adopted.
Adoption of Plan
The Beauvoir Master Plan for 2007 – 2012 was adopted at the regular meeting of the combined board on February 10, 2007.
Appendix Maps (See below)
