Now that we are well into spring with summer just around the corner, the Mississippi Gulf Coast has a new level of excitement as visitors and residents alike enjoy the variety of special events, activities, and entertainment found in the beachfront communities of Mississippi.

Whether you are a frequent traveler to the Biloxi area, a new resident, or even a long time inhabitant, there is a freshness to our Coast, as a result of many new projects (or renewed ones) opening since “the great unpleasantness” (better known as Hurricane Katrina).

Three things certainly stand out to me.

First, the rebuilding of the Ohr- O’Keefe Museum, featuring the works of the “Mad Potter of Biloxi” George E. Ohr, is something special to behold. Right along the beachfront along Highway 90 near the casinos, this Frank Gehry designed project is once again taking shape.

Originally designed to integrate Ohr’s shapes and graceful lines as captured in his pottery with local cultural history, the Museum was well on its way back in 2005, when the powerful water surge added unintended twists and severe destruction to the architectural “dancing with the trees” theme designed by the world renown Gehry. Another key element of the campus, the historic Pleasant Reed House, home of a George Ohr contemporary and freed slave, was a total hurricane loss.

Now, the Ohr “pods” designed by Gehry are back and have been named as one of America’s new architectural achievements by Time Magazine. Additionally, the Pleasant Reed House is being rebuilt from the original plans and will be viewable as a restoration.

Secondly, “Beauvoir,” the final home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, is allowing visitors back on its grounds.

This historic site, when completed, will have the residence restored andthe top notch museum which interpreted the life of Jefferson Davis and the period around the Confederacy back in operation. You can go there now to monitor the progress on the site and learn how the restoration of Beauvoir, its grounds, and the museum will take place in the next few years, while the bicentennial of the birth of Jefferson Davis is celebrated this June.

Activities at Beauvoir will quickly be reintroduced, so watch your favorite website or www.gulfcoast.org to keep up with them.

Finally, I just love the changes and expansion at the Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport. The new restaurants, counter space, baggage claim, security procedures, and lounge put our local facility into a new category of upgraded experiences. The increase in air service, while some adjustments are being made, is still dramatic. As a result of the April Air Service and Tourism Summit just held at the Beau Rivage with major representation from airline and tourism developers, bodes well for the days ahead.

What an easy way to get in and out of the entire Gulf Coast region! Then, of course, there are all those other spectacular Mississippi Gulf Coast features — more restaurants with tremendous variety, top golf courses, excellent fishing experiences, phenomenal and unusual special events, our entertainment complexes (also known as the Mississippi Gulf Coast casino resorts), and many, many cultural attractions enjoyable for your entire family...and let’s not forget our famous Gulf Coast beach.

Although I am personally working just outside of Washington, DC, a lot of the time, it’s always great to come home and see the progress. It’s nothing short of amazing.

Thank you for being part of our community…whether it’s for a day or a lifetime!