Life is changing and you have to move or downsize. What do you do with precious items you have cherished or collected for years, or sentimental mementos you have admired in your grandparents’ home and you have now inherited? They are precious memories of the past that you have enjoyed.  They are also history of the past. There might be little or no intrinsic value in these items, but they carry with them a wealth that enriches and clarifies a glimpse into the past and the people who came before us.

     That glimpse of the past is what Betty Hancock Shaw, a lifelong resident of Gulfport, realized was being lost to hurricanes, life changes and just the passage of time. So, with the help and encouragement of her friends, she founded the Historical Society of Gulfport in 2010. In 2019, the City of Gulfport recognized the depth of need and offered the 1904 Train Depot at 1419 27^th Avenue for the new home, rent-free for the Gulfport Museum of History. With a penchant for saving items from the past and making them accessible to the public, Shaw, president, and the all-volunteer Historical Society are now encouraging personal research in the Gulfport Museum of History by appointment. The Museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tours.  When the grip of COVID-19 is relaxed, everyone at the Museum will be looking forward to the crowd’s enjoyment, entertainment and education as it was prior to the shutdown. The goal of the Museum is to provide easy access to the items on display, while archiving and showcasing collections rather than storing them out of sight.

     Shaw was delighted to share that a gentleman who graduated from Gulfport High School in the 50’s had recently donated all his memorabilia to the Museum, saving those memories for all to enjoy. A precious scrapbook of newspaper clippings done by a grandmother, following the custom of the day, was donated. She had clipped the write-ups of all her friends’ weddings from local newspapers and filled scrapbooks with pictures of beautiful weddings. Grandma then gifted her granddaughter, who then gifted those precious pages to the Gulfport Museum of History. What can we discover from those pages?
     A meeting with 18 friends had blossomed to more than 40 people attending the pre COVID-19 meetings, with a current paid membership of over 120. Looking for a bigger space to accommodate larger meetings, the Museum used the historic and mid-century modern church, the former St. Matthews Lutheran in Gulfport, to expand the educational opportunities and attract more members.  The Museum is looking forward to 2021. Planning has begun for meetings and a spirit-lifting and fundraising gala. 

“Welcoming the public to come and see is the first goal. Being a repository for all the precious historical items and making them safe but accessible is our second goal. Being open for research to everyone is our third goal. And last, but not least, is to honor the people who came before us and revealing how they lived.”

Betty Shaw, president, Historical Society of Gulfport

     Shaw lives her goals by acting as president of the Historical Society and opening the doors of the Gulfport Museum of History three days a week, with the expectation of more open days when the virus becomes history. The Museum had opened its doors for the first time at the historic Gulfport Depot in March of 2020 and was forced to close due to COVID-19 after only eight days.
     Google “Crossville-chronicle.com” and learn about the “Black History display at the Gulfport Museum of History.”  It’s an interesting read about those who have paved the way. “John C. Robinson, Tavis Smiley, and Anna Mae Tate are just a few local African-American figures being showcased in the first Black History display at the Gulfport Museum of History,” said Shaw. “Images of Gulfport” by Betty Hancock Shaw (Acadian Publishing) is a history book in pictures of Gulfport that Shaw wrote in 2011. Tickling your imagination and wonder about all that Gulfport has and had will be fulfilled with a visit to the Gulfport Museum of History. The doors have been thrown open to us all.   

 
     Visits to the Museum, monetary donations, and membership dues are all vital to the life source of any museum.  Yearly single membership is $25.  Family membership is $40.  Student membership is $15.  Tax Deductible Family Membership Plus is $100. The Museum is a 501c3 organization supported by membership dues, donations and grants. Admission to the Museum is free.
     For more information, visit the Gulfport Museum of History located at 1419 27^th Avenue, Gulfport. Call the Museum at 228-861-6600, or send an email to gulfporthistory@gmail.com. Visit the Museum online at www.thehistoricalsocietyofgulfport.org.

Susan Weller

Years of living along the Gulf Coast with a penchant for capturing photographs of smiling faces and beautiful places has brought Susan Weller to Seaside Social News. “This tenure will enhance my opportunities to capture and promote the exciting venues and activities generated by our lovely Gulf Coast and the people who live and celebrate life’s joys.”