Biloxi Lighthouse
A cast-iron 1848 lighthouse, female keepers, storm history, and a compact climb make the Gulf Coast’s resilience visible from inside the tower.
Artwork inspired by Dusti Bongé
The lighthouse is notable for cast-iron construction and for the women—including Maria Younghans—who served as keepers for unusually long periods. Its survival through major hurricanes and relocation of the shoreline around it makes the tower a concise lesson in coastal engineering, federal navigation, labor, and public memory.
Guided climbs are limited by the narrow spiral stair, heat, wind, and weather; ground-level viewing is a complete alternative, not a failed visit. The tower now stands within a divided highway median, so use the designated parking and crossing procedure. Pair it with the Biloxi Visitors Center to understand the vanished lighthouse-keeper dwelling and changing beachfront.
- Best first move
- Visitors Center orientation
- Do not miss
- Guided tower climb
- Plan for
- 45–90 minutes
Quick guide
- People
- Learn the keepers’ working routines
- Material
- Iron plates, bolts, stairs, lens
Make the visit count
- Meet the keepers
- Learn the labor and family routines behind a romantic beacon image.
- Read the material
- Look at iron plates, bolts, stair, lens level, and corrosion controls.
- Track the shoreline
- Compare historic images with today’s seawall, road, and developed beach.
- Climb within limits
- Use both hands, follow capacity rules, and accept weather cancellations.
Good to know
Climbs use a confined spiral staircase and may stop for heat, wind, rain, maintenance, or staffing. The lighthouse sits between traffic lanes rather than on a quiet parcel; park at the Visitors Center and follow the designated crossing.
Notice these
- Visitors Center orientation
- Guided tower climb
- Keeper and hurricane history