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23 chapters
Beauvoir FREELY TRANSLATED “BEAUTIFUL VIEW” JEFFERSON DAVIS SHRINE
Beauvoir FREELY TRANSLATED “BEAUTIFUL VIEW” JEFFERSON DAVIS SHRINE
BEAUVOIR HOUSE—LAST HOME OF JEFFERSON DAVIS ON UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 90 MIDWAY BETWEEN BILOXI AND GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Davis Beauvoir, freely translated “ beautiful view ,” is located on U. S. Highway 90 about halfway between Gulfport and Biloxi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It was originally part of a tract of land that James Brown, a prosperous planter of Madison County, Mississippi bought September 2, 1848, by Contract and Agreement from John Henderson of Pass Christi
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BEAUVOIR MARKERS
BEAUVOIR MARKERS
The granite boulder on the Jefferson Davis Highway, marking the last home of Jefferson Davis, was erected in June 1929. It was obtained through the efforts of Mrs. A. McC. Kimbrough and the generosity of T. A. McGahey of the Columbus Marble Works. The marble Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway marker on Highway 90 was erected in 1944 by the Mississippi Highway Department. It was dedicated June 3, 1945. The marker in front of Beauvoir House on Highway 90 was dedicated by the Mississippi Historical M
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MEMORIAL ARCH
MEMORIAL ARCH
The imposing marble Memorial Arch, serving as a gateway for the main entrance to Beauvoir, was erected in 1917 by the Mississippi Division United Daughters of the Confederacy....
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THE APPROACH TO BEAUVOIR HOUSE
THE APPROACH TO BEAUVOIR HOUSE
Some of the attractive features of the approach to Beauvoir House are the huge live oak trees, festooned with gray moss; the few remaining ancient cedars, marking the dim outline of the once circular driveway; the flowers and shrubs, planted to simulate the use made of them in the old days; the broad brick walk, replacing the old shell walk, leading direct to the fan shaped steps of hand dressed cypress with hand turned spindle bannisters; the inviting broad galleries, extending far around on ei
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RECEPTION HALL
RECEPTION HALL
The spacious reception hall that extends the length of the main part of Beauvoir House immediately claims attention by its now seldom seen rounded corners, unusually high ceiling, and beautifully frescoed walls and ceiling done by the German artist Meuhler, later retouched by a talented decorator. But there is great interest also in the furnishings, almost all of which were used by Jefferson Davis and his family during their occupancy of Beauvoir, and either kept there or returned later. The ori
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FIRST OF THE DOUBLE PARLORS—THE FRONT PARLOR
FIRST OF THE DOUBLE PARLORS—THE FRONT PARLOR
The Front Parlor used by the Davis family as their parlor has, as has the back parlor or library, the same rounded corners, high ceiling, and frescoed walls and ceiling found in the reception hall. It is furnished almost entirely with original pieces; but the fine portrait of Jefferson Davis made after his 81st birthday is not one of these. It was painted by G. B. Matthews and presented to the Shrine by Mrs. Darling of New York. At the left of the door is a portrait of Mr. Davis’ mother. The ori
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THE BACK PARLOR, LIBRARY FOR THE DAVIS FAMILY
THE BACK PARLOR, LIBRARY FOR THE DAVIS FAMILY
The Library, used also for daily family gatherings by Mr. and Mrs. Davis, contains the following furnishings originally in use there and later returned to the Shrine by Davis descendants in Colorado; a pair of sofas (gentleman’s in leather and lady’s in fabric); marble bust of two year old Samuel Davis, first child of Mr. and Mrs. Davis; desk with double section of drawers and the large book on the desk, Winnie’s dictionary. Here also is the large Oriental rug just recently returned to Beauvoir
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WINNIE DAVIS MEMORIAL ROOM
WINNIE DAVIS MEMORIAL ROOM
The front room on the right of the reception hall was, according to Mrs. Davis’ will, the room of Miss Varina Anne (Winnie) Davis, “The Daughter of the Confederacy”. Her request was that this room and the other rooms of members of the family, who lived in Beauvoir House, be kept and preserved as a memorial to each occupant. In planning to refurnish this front room on the right as a memorial to Winnie Davis, it was found that only a few pieces of the original furnishings were left. It was then th
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MARGARET DAVIS HAYES MEMORIAL ROOM
MARGARET DAVIS HAYES MEMORIAL ROOM
The second room on the right is a memorial to Margaret Davis Hayes. It contains the bedroom suite of burled walnut formerly used in this room. This furniture had been sent from Beauvoir after it was no longer the Davis home, and thirty-nine years later it was shipped back in the same crates with labels in Mrs. Davis’ handwriting still on them. The pillow cases on Margaret’s bed were among the linens used by Mrs. Davis, when newly wedded to Jefferson Davis. Grouped around the mantel in this room
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JEFFERSON DAVIS ROOM
JEFFERSON DAVIS ROOM
The rooms occupied by Jefferson Davis and Mrs. Davis, with a connecting door between, form an offset on the west side of the house to the left of the back parlor or family study. Jefferson Davis’ room faces the Gulf and has the advantage of being entered from the front or back without passing through any other room. The furnishings in this room, that were there when Jefferson Davis was an occupant of it, are the large rocking chair, the bed, the washstand and washstand set, towel rack, cigar sta
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MRS. DAVIS ROOM
MRS. DAVIS ROOM
This room, opening into Jefferson Davis’ room, has the added attraction of having in it two of the five closets in Beauvoir House, as well as a north window overlooking Mrs. Davis’ rose garden. The original furnishings are the armoire, sewing machine, spool washstand table, washstand set, the candle stand or bedside table, and a treasured book, “Manual of Family Devotion”, presented to Mrs. Davis by Bishop C. T. Quintard (Bishop of Tennessee—1865-1898), and inscribed as follows: “To Mrs. Davis w
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DINING ROOM
DINING ROOM
The table, chairs, and large sideboard in the dining room are original Davis pieces, given to Judge and Mrs. A. McC. Kimbrough of Greenwood, Mississippi and the Gulf Coast, when Beauvoir was dismantled. They were kept intact by them as long as they lived, and by their family after their deaths. Later, responding to the need of these original pieces in making Beauvoir a Jefferson Davis Shrine, the Kimbrough family loaned them for use in their original setting. The painting on the board, forming a
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BUTLER’S PANTRY AND CHILDREN’S DINING ROOM
BUTLER’S PANTRY AND CHILDREN’S DINING ROOM
These rooms have been restored to their original state. In the children’s dining room separated from the well arranged butler’s pantry by a partial partition are a round oak table and chairs in a size suitable for children. The willow ware seen on the shelves was used by the Davis family when they lived at Beauvoir. The original kitchen, used first by the Brown family then the Davis family, was burned about 1927. A covered walkway connected the old kitchen with Beauvoir House, where the back sta
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THE DAVIS MUSEUM
THE DAVIS MUSEUM
The front portion of the ground floor has been put to excellent use as a Davis Museum. Its theme is Jefferson Davis and His Family. On this same ground floor, just back of the museum, is a bricked-in room in which the meat was hung and the wines stored. To the left of this room is the dry well which served, to some extent, the purpose of a refrigerator....
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OTHER LARGE MUSEUM PIECES ON DISPLAY
OTHER LARGE MUSEUM PIECES ON DISPLAY
The phaeton, used by Mrs. Davis on her visiting days, has been loaned by the Kimbrough heirs. Since Mrs. Davis was short in stature, it was necessary to have special steps put on the phaeton for her convenience. The buggy that belonged to Jefferson Davis was purchased by Dr. A. D. Harmanson, and has been given to the Shrine by his daughters, Mrs. Pearl Harmanson Atkinson of Biloxi, Mississippi and Mrs. Lillie Harmanson Marsh of Dallas, Texas. Near the phaeton and the buggy is Winnie’s sidesaddle
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THE WEST COTTAGE or HAYES COTTAGE
THE WEST COTTAGE or HAYES COTTAGE
During the occupancy of Beauvoir by Jefferson Davis and his family, this West Cottage was enlarged to serve as their Guest Cottage. But later, because so frequently used by the elder daughter, Margaret Davis Hayes and her family, it became known as the Hayes Cottage. In the front room of this cottage is an attractive cottage bedroom suite that was formerly used by Winnie Davis. The Gulfport Chapter UDC No. 1068 obtained possession of it and presented it to Beauvoir in 1907. This cottage, called
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THE CONFEDERATE MUSEUM
THE CONFEDERATE MUSEUM
To the east is the large building that was the hospital for the Confederate Veterans Home during the many years it served the Confederate veterans, and their wives and widows. Today this hospital structure is the entranceway for the home. This building houses a collection of valued gifts which has grown up with the home. Many items of historic interest in this period of history, not directly connected with the Davis family, were moved to this museum. Also in this building, an interesting Souveni
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WITH A SEMI-HISTORIC GLIMPSE OF THE REAR GROUNDS OF THE SHRINE
WITH A SEMI-HISTORIC GLIMPSE OF THE REAR GROUNDS OF THE SHRINE
A hallowed spot on the land, comprising the property of the Jefferson Davis Shrine, is the Beauvoir Confederate Cemetery where about 800 inmates of the Jefferson Davis Confederate Soldiers’ Home lie buried. The grave of Samuel Emory Davis, father of Jefferson Davis, is near the center, the remains and marker having been moved from the Brierfield Plantation on the Mississippi River, south of Vicksburg, Mississippi. On the way to this secluded but loved burial ground, visitors pass along the woodl
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CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE
CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE
1808, June 3—Born in Fairview, Kentucky; moved to Woodville, Mississippi when a small child. 1813-1823—First 10 years of his education: home town log-cabin school; St. Thomas’ Catholic College near Springfield, Kentucky, when only 7 and 8 years old; Jefferson College near Natchez, Mississippi; back home to Wilkinson County Academy; and 3 years at Transylvania College, Lexington, Kentucky. 1824-1828—Attended West Point Military Academy 4 years, graduated at the age of 20; commissioned Second Lieu
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PUBLICATIONS OF BEAUVOIR BOOKLETS
PUBLICATIONS OF BEAUVOIR BOOKLETS
“Historic Beauvoir” was compiled in 1932-1933 by Mrs. A. D. Spooner and Mrs. R. C. Herron, Group Chairmen. It was revised and reprinted in 1939 by Mrs. I. F. Galloway, Group Chairman. “Beauvoir—The Last Home of Jefferson Davis” was revised and renamed by the Beauvoir Historical Committee, Mrs. H. D. Lindsey, Chairman, Mrs. Rucks Yerger, Mrs. J. W. Atkinson, Mrs. W. F. O’Donnell and Dr. Margaret Caraway. “Beauvoir—Jefferson Davis Shrine” was revised and renamed in 1945 by a committee, Mrs. John L
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ORIGIN OF THE BEAUVOIR BOOKLET
ORIGIN OF THE BEAUVOIR BOOKLET
In 1932 members of the three Gulf Coast chapters of the Mississippi Division United Daughters of the Confederacy conceived the idea of the publication of a Beauvoir Booklet, proceeds from the sale of which would be used for UDC projects. Representatives of these chapters—Gulfport No. 1068, Beauvoir-Biloxi No. 623 and Beauvoir-Gulfport No. 621, have revised and enlarged the original booklet as improvements and development of the Home into a Shrine arose. This group is now designated in the Divisi
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THE FLAGS OF THE CONFEDERACY
THE FLAGS OF THE CONFEDERACY
No. 1. The “Stars and Bars” was the first National Flag of the Confederate States of America. It was adopted by the Confederate Congress, and raised at sunrise over the Confederate Capitol at Montgomery, Alabama, March 4th, 1861, where the Provisional Congress was holding its first session. At the time of its adoption, it was ordered that a star be added to the flag for each new state joining the Confederacy. This flag is used as the emblem of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. No. 2. The
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JEFFERSON DAVIS’ RIGHTFUL PLACE IN HISTORY By Mildred Lewis Rutherford, Historian
JEFFERSON DAVIS’ RIGHTFUL PLACE IN HISTORY By Mildred Lewis Rutherford, Historian
1. Distinguished services in the Black Hawk War. 2. Served valiantly in the Mexican War. 3. Hero at Monterey; wounded at Buena Vista; scaled the walls of the City of Mexico. 4. He introduced the wedge movement and saved the day at Buena Vista. 5. United States Senator from Mississippi. 6. Secretary of War in Pierce’s Cabinet. 7. First to suggest transcontinental railroads connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific. 8. First to suggest camels as ships of the uninhabitable West to convey military st
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