Magnolia Hotel
National Register of Historic Places

Magnolia Hotel

Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi
Listed
March 14, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
73001013

About this property

The Magnolia Hotel was built in 1847 to serve as a lodging establishment. It is thought to be the oldest surviving hotel on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 1985. The Magnolia Hotel was constructed for John Hahn, who operated a coffeehouse in New Orleans. Originally, the hotel was a 2+1⁄2-story, wood-frame building with plastered exterior walls that measured 54 feet (16 m) on each side. The exterior walls were recessed 7 feet (2.1 m). A central hall extended front to back on both floors. The first floor had paired rooms on either side of the hall; the second floor hall had six rooms on either side. The hotel was originally located near the beach, facing south, toward the Mississippi Sound. John Hahn died in 1848, but his wife operated the hotel to accommodate guests from New Orleans, because Biloxi had become a popular resort destination on the Gulf Coast. After the American Civil War, the hotel became a destination for winter guests from northern states, who were attracted by the mild climate. The hotel was operated by descendants of John Hahn through World War II, when it closed. In 1969, Hurricane Camille inflicted considerable damage to the building. Because of the hotel's historical significance, the city of Biloxi acquired the building in 1972, and moved it to a higher elevation, approximately 100 yards (91 m) north of its original location. The structure was oriented to face east and was restored. Additional restoration was required to repair damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As of 2013, the building was being used as Biloxi's Mardi Gras Museum. In addition to displays of memorabilia from carnival celebrations, the museum documents the history of the Magnolia Hotel.

Location

137 Magnolia St.
Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi
30.39463, -88.88920

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Brunet-Fourchy House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Scherer House
Pre Contact
0.1 mi
Clemens House
Pre Contact
0.1 mi
Redding House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Biloxi Downtown Historic District
Pre Contact
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Ship Island — Confederate Evacuation and Union Occupation
1861Civil War
12.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Magnolia Hotel listed on the National Register?

Magnolia Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 14, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Magnolia Hotel?

Magnolia Hotel is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Magnolia Hotel?

The period of significance for Magnolia Hotel is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1847.

Can I research the history near Magnolia Hotel?

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