In the Fall of 2002, the Mississippi Division of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans had owned Beauvoir for one hundred years.  Until 1957, Beauvoir was operated as a home for Confederate veterans and their wives.  Since 1957, it has been operated as a museum to perpetuate the accurate memory and distinguished service of President Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Soldier.

Before, during, and after the Davis Period (1879 - 1902) horticulture and agriculture have been integral parts of the history of Beauvoir.  President and Mrs. Davis enjoyed extensive flower and kitchen gardens immediately behind Beauvoir House, and these are well documented.  They also operated a small scale agricultural business at Beauvoir, exporting satsumas, citrons, figs and wine from Beauvoir Station to New Orleans, Mobile and even as far away as Chicago.

At Beauvoir, on April 20, 2002, after three years of study, a master plan for the development of the Gulf Coast Botanical Gardens was announced to the public.  This bold plan will serve as a powerful educational tool to help Beauvoir better fulfill its mission statement:  “To educate the world about Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Soldier.”
 

In this well-coordinated plan are a number of major design elements.
· The historically based recreation of President and Mrs. Davis’ Victorian flower and kitchen gardens immediately behind Beauvoir House
· The Confederate Memorial Gardens, The Gray Line memorial avenue, and the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier
· The Jefferson Davis Presidential Garden
· The preservation of the Pre-Biloxi forest
· The restoration of historic Oyster Bayou
· The Water Gardens
· The Modern Southern Gardens
· The Children’s Garden

The first and highest priority will be given to both the historically based re-creation of the gardens of Mrs. Varina Howell Davis immediately behind Beauvoir House and the Confederate Memorial Gardens with The Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier.

Beauvoir is a beautiful treasure and a powerful educational tool to help us meet our stated mission of educating the world about Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Soldier.  With your help, we can better present the jewel that is Beauvoir, and we can more effectively use the powerful educational instrument with which the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans has been entrusted.
  Click Here for a preview map of the proposed gardens. Map uses "mouse over" for descriptions of each area.
Click here for more information on becoming a part of this addition to the Gulf Coast and Beauvoir.