Each year, history comes alive in the Old Biloxi Cemetery with self-guided tours.  Biloxi’s colorful characters of yesteryear headline the tour as their stories are told by graveside re-enactors.

Some of the stories are well known such as Edward Barq and the creation of his namesake beverage but others are more obscure like Joseph “Dinker” Lamas being mauled by a bear at the Biloxi city zoo.

The tours, renowned for their rich historical significance, are open to the public free of charge, although donations are welcomed. The funds raised go toward the preservation and upkeep of the cemetery’s oldest and most historic graves ensuring that Biloxi’s legacy endures through the ages.

The tours are put together by the Preserve Biloxi Committee, a collaboration of the City of Biloxi, Biloxi Main Street, Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce, Biloxi Public Library Local History and Genealogy Department,Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area.

The tours officially began in 2007.

Here is a listing of the tours.
(Information complied by City of Biloxi and Jane Shambra)

2007 Re-dedication of Old Biloxi Cemetery
See tour program

2008 Cemetery Tour (no theme)
See photos 

2009 How Streets Got Their Names
See photos
See more about the tour

2010 The Immigrants: Biloxi’s Melting Pot
See more about the tour

2011 Schooners, Shrimpers, and Sailors
See more about the tour

2012 Honoring Our Heros
See tour info

2013 Biloxi Makes History
See photos

2014 Voices from the Past
See the program
See more about the tour

2015 Building Biloxi

2016 Mayors of Biloxi
See photos
See more about the tour

2017 Greetings from Biloxi
See the program

2018 Biloxi Praise
See the program
May tour info
Additional May tour info

2019 Biloxi’s Colorful Past
See the program
See more about the tour
See even more about the tour

2020 Family Legends and Lore 2 (virtual)
See the video