Article by Eva Rains & picture by Delise Henry
During the first week of March 2026, Thomas Jefferson Stubbs 2523 Conroe
chapter member, Delise Henry, visited the historic home of Jefferson Davis in Biloxi,
Mississippi, known as Beauvoir. Jefferson Davis was the only person to serve as
President of the Confederacy and his last home was Beauvoir. The house sits
across the highway from the massive ocean on the Gulf Coast.
The house was built in 1852, it has an elevated cottage design and wrap around
porches. It’s history and culture have educated thousands over the years. Every 3rd Saturday, you may attend a living history event on the grounds, visit all the houses on the property, walk down the hallways, go thru the rooms, see the curated exhibits, original furnishings and the personal belongings of the Davis family and the Presidential Library. Then take a walk thru the hallowed grounds of the Confederate Memorial Cemetery.
Madison County lawyer, James Brown, bought the beach front acreage in
September of 1848 and began planning the construction of a summer cottage home. The house was built using area cypress and longleaf heart pine, processed in a local sawmill. Slate for the roof was imported from Wales, marble for the fire places and etched glass for the front and back doors came from Italy. The house was completed in 1852.
It was July 7, 1873 that Sarah Ann Dorsey, who was a childhood friend of Varina Howell David (wife of Jefferson Davis), purchased the property and house and at that time was known as “Orange Grove”. Mrs. Dorsey renamed the house and called it Beauvoir, meaning “beautiful view”. The War Between the States was over and President Davis was looking for a place to write his memoirs. He had always loved Beauvoir and on February 19, 1879, he purchased the entire property from Mrs. Dorsey.
Davis lived in the house until his death in 1889, in 1892, his wife Varina and their daughter Winnie moved to New York City. Beauvoir fell in disrepair after a hurricane in October of 1893, the Sons of Confederate Veterans took ownership in 1903 and from 1903 to 1957, the house was used as a Confederate home for veterans, their wives and widows. Beauvoir has survived many hurricanes over the years, one of the worse was Katrina in 2005. The damage was unbelievable, but Beauvoir was restored and reopened to the public in June of 2008.
The house is GRAND and if ever in Mississippi, it is a must visit.
The Stubbs chapter is in the Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Article by Eva Rains, Publicity Chairman for the Stubbs Chapter