JEFFERSON DAVIS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM

The Beauvoir

The Beauvoir estate is the post-war home of Jefferson Davis, the former President of the Confederate States of America. Construction began in 1848 with the house facing the Biloxi beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Beauvoir means "beautiful to view." Beauvoir has been designated a national historic landmark.

The widow who owned the plantation invited the former president of the Confederacy to stay at Beauvoir after hearing of Jefferson Davis' personal and financial difficulties.  He accepted her invitation to move into a cottage on the plantation grounds in 1877. 

In 1879 he purchased the house for $5,500 to be paid in three installments.  The owner of the house bequeathed the property to him before she died and before he had made all three payments. 

The tomb of the unknown Confederate soldier is on this property.

Hurricane Katrina did extensive damage to Beauvoir. Five of the seven buildings on the estate were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and 35% of the presidential collection was lost.