Town Green/Katrina Memorial

Town Green

 The Town Green is an area dedicated as an oasis for the people of Biloxi.  Free of commercial establishments, the Town Green is host to local festivals and city events.  Note the “shoo-fly,” the raised platform that surrounds the oak tree.  Shoo-flies were a familiar sight along the 19th century Mississippi Coast, as people could sit elevated to catch the Gulf breezes and to avoid pestilence.  Shoo-fly is a corruption of the French word “Chou-fleur,” which translates as “cauliflower,” an apt description of the white circular structure sitting on its stem-like foundation.

 

Katrina Memorial

Located on the northeast section of the Town Green, the Katrina Memorial was dedicated on February 6, 2006 to those who lost their lives during Hurricane Katrina. The memorial consists of a 12-foot tall black granite wall inscribed with the names of the victims; a mosaic wave representing the storm surge; and a glass enclosed case, which holds personal items found in the wake of the storm.  The height of the monument equals the depth of the storm surge (not withstanding wave action) in this section of Biloxi.  Katrina occurred on August 29, 2005.

The Biloxi Town Green is also the starting point for the Historic Downtown Walking Tour. This self-guided tour highlights some of Biloxi’s distinct architecture.  Look for the kiosk just west of the shoo-fly for tour maps.

From the Town Green, turn left (south) onto Lameuse Street and proceed to Highway 90 (Beach Boulevard).  Turn left (east) and travel one tenth of a mile to and get into the right turn lane at the traffic signal at Highway 90 and Main Street.  Turn  right (south) into the Small Craft Harbor parking lot.  The Glennan and Guice Parks are on the north.