Celebrate Gulf Coast HISTORY in February!

EXPLORE THE TRUE SOUTH’S HISTORY AND HERITAGE THIS MONTH

ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST

BILOXI, Miss. (February 1, 2011) – The MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST invites visitors to experience Mississippi’s rich history and cultural heritage and to find their true south during the month of February. Whether you are interested in Civil War history, the Civil Rights Movement or Native American culture, Mississippi is full of authentic sights, sounds and attractions for you to experience firsthand. It’s true: Mississippi is home to some of our nation’s most important history and heritage.Plan trip to Mississippi in February to experience it for yourself.

The year 2011 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, and Mississippi is home to many of the Civil War Sesquicentennial activities and events being planned for 2011-2015. The Civil War Preservation Trust lists 39 Mississippi sites on its Civil War Discovery Trail. The recently launched www.mscivilwar150.com is an excellent resource for up-to-the-minutes details about Civil War-related activities happening around the state.
February is African-American History Month in America, bringing an increased focus on Civil Rights history to the world. Mississippi Civil Rights leaders were central to that movement, and you can learn more about how they helped shape our future while you are here. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders and Freedom Summer 1961, a pivotal part of the Civil Rights Movement.
Following are some local attractions that will help you savor the region’s rich heritage and point you in the direction of discovery:
• The Pleasant Reed House, located at Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi.  http://www.georgeohr.org/
• Beauvoir, the Home of Jefferson Davis http://www.beauvoir.org/
The MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST has its own story to tell about the people, places and events that helped shape the history of Mississippi. What better way to find your true south than to take a trip tosouth in February!

To view more details about places you can visit to enjoy the history and heritage of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, visit http://www.gulfcoast.org/.

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