About Biloxi Lighthouse
The Biloxi Lighthouse has watched the Mississippi Sound since 1848, but the modern city has placed it in an unusual setting. Traffic on busy U.S. 90 now flows around the white cast-iron tower, leaving the historic beacon perched in the highway median rather than at the edge of a quiet harbor.
It was among the first cast-iron lighthouses built in the American South. Several women served as keepers during its long working life, and the tower survived major hurricanes that damaged much of the surrounding coast. Its compact spiral stair and thick metal shell still demonstrate an early experiment in durable lighthouse construction.
The exterior can be viewed for free at any time from appropriate public areas. Guided morning climbs are normally offered for a small fee, weather permitting, but upper-deck repairs have temporarily interrupted tours. Check the city’s current notice before planning to climb. The nearby Biloxi Visitors Center provides additional history and a safer place to park before approaching this improbable landmark in the middle of the road.