by KAREN LAGRANGE COX
Places to Visit
The historical Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Railroad Train Depot is located by Highway 90 and Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The train depot, built in 1907, is now the home of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Ocean Springs Main Street Program, and the Tourism Bureau. The depot also houses a small shop, Realizations, which features the work of Walter Inglis Anderson, one of their local artists (1903 – 1965).
Another revitalization in Ocean Springs is the landmark high school building built in 1927 on Government Street. The building served as a high school from 1927 until 1965, then housed the junior high school from 1965 until 1973, then became a school administration building. The building was vacant for many years, renovated in 1999, and now houses The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center.
The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center’s mission is “Connecting Community with Creatives Through Arts-Based Education & Entertainment”. The Arts Center was named after O’Keef who was the first public superintendent in Mississippi.
To learn more about Ocean Springs and what it has to offer, visit its website.
