by Ezabelle Janssen, Staff Writer
GULFPORT (GG) — The 2026 Mississippi Gulf Coast Historical and Cultural Exposition turned the Gulfport Museum of History into a living scrapbook of the Coast’s past and present, with nearly 20 cultural organizations, museums, historical societies, and a flock of tuxedoed aquarium celebrities on May 8th and 9th. The free annual expo urged visitors to journey through each booth, handing guests “passports” to carry and collect stamps, showcasing various looking-glasses into the Gulf Coast’s layered identity.
Ed Hilton of the Gulfport Museum of History said the event continues to grow as organizations come together to share their stories with the public and with one another. “This event was originally for years held over in Biloxi, and this is the second year that we’re hosting it here at the Depot,” Hilton said. “We have a collection of different organizations that deal with history, historical societies, we have historians from the base, and once a year, we meet together and provide a venue to the public so they can learn about other organizations,” Hilton noted that one of the most rewarding parts of the expo is the crossover between groups. “It’s been really interesting because we get a cross-hatch of different histories,” he said. “They’ve been learning about ours, and we’re learning about theirs.”
Among the numerous participating organizations was INFINITY Science Center, for nearly 15 years it has showcased Mississippi’s role in scientific discovery.
Along with the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum that honors the legacy of aviator John C. Robinson, the “Brown Condor,” while preserving the stories of Mississippians’ contributions to the history of flight.
Representatives from the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum carried more than 300 years of Gulf Coast maritime heritage to the expo floor.
Nearly a century of coastal tradition sailed in with Ship Island Excursions, the Skrmetta family-operated ferry service that has transported more than a million visitors to Mississippi’s barrier islands since 1926.
At Beauvoir, history is carefully preserved in the former home and presidential library of Jefferson Davis, where visitors can explore the complicated story of the Gulf Coast after the Civil War.
Art and history are intertwined at the Gulfport Arts Center, based in Gulfport’s historic Carnegie Library building. Founded after Hurricane Katrina, it continues to champion local artists.
Fun buzzed from Mississippi’s first children’s museum, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center’s booth, as the nationally recognized center showcased decades of hands-on learning, laughter, and family exploration on the Coast.
Military history carried a strong presence throughout the event as the Keesler Air Force Base 81st Training Wing History Office displayed lithographs, historical timelines, and stories tracing the base’s deep connection with Biloxi and the Coast dating back to World War II. Mr. Tyrone D. Scott of the 81st Training Wing History Office said community outreach continues to be a part of their mission. “One of the things we do in the military is outreach to educate the community on what we do because the main reason we exist is their taxpayer money,” Scott said. “These kinds of events explain the relationship we’ve had going all the way back to 1941 and show how close we are to the Biloxi community.” The exhibit highlighted the story of Second Lieutenant Samuel Reeves Keesler Jr., the Mississippi-born airman the base was named after.
Transportation history rolled into the conversation with representatives from Coast Transit Authority celebrating the organization’s 50th anniversary. Karen Morgan, Advertising and Event Sales Coordinator of Coast Transit Authority, said public transportation has long played a critical role in daily life across the region. “Getting people to where they need to go to work, to activities, to attractions is important,” Morgan said. “And getting our seniors to their doctor’s appointments, to senior centers, to grocery stores, so they can have a good life.”
Other participating groups included the National Park Service, the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, the Pearl River Historical Society, the Hancock County Historical Society, the Ocean Springs Genealogical Society, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Historical and Genealogical Society, among many others.
As visitors’ passports filled with stamps, they traveled through centuries of Gulf Coast stories. For those already looking ahead, organizers have announced next year’s Mississippi Gulf Coast Historical and Cultural Exposition will return April 30th through May 1st, right back at the Gulfport Museum of History.
(Photos by Ezabelle Janssen/The Gazebo Gazette)
