Rest Area : The Mississippi Welcome Center

I love road trips. I do not know how many times I said that in my blog but, that's the truth. I love going to places and road trips are the best way to do it. Last week, one family member who visited us from Spain went back and we tried to catch her flight in Mobile , Alabama.

As to why? It's a long story that you won't be interested to hear. It was a whirlwind situation in fact, her flight was at 11:00 AM and we arrived at the airport at 10:35AM. I know right? Well, the luck is on her side! The plane was delayed and the ticketing agent was able to booked her on the same flight. She's on a body pass and guess what? She was able to get in and when she arrived Atlanta, Georgia she got the first class seat too and that's all the way to Spain. Whewww!

Hubby and I went back home and after few minutes of driving, we stopped at the rest area. This is the Welcome Center in Mississippi along Hwy 110. I like this place because they offer free refreshments. At that time, I didn't get any. I just went at the front and took some photos of the tree sculpture.

You see, a lot of trees along the gulf coast were uprooted and damaged during Hurricane Katrina and some were still standing tall minus the leaves of course. There were so many oak trees dead. Some artist came to the gulf coast and devoted their skills , time and money to preserve the historic trees. This tree is one of them and you can see it when you visit the Welcome Center in Mississippi.

If you want to see more of the tree sculptures, visit the Beach Boulevard along the Gulf coast of Mississippi and you will surely find the sight of them.

Sculptures: Sea Creatures

Did you know that there are a lot of local artist here in Biloxi and Ocean Springs, Mississippi? Their inspirations are the sea creatures because they live in the Gulf Coast. Their life is evolve around the beach and seashores. These are sculptures of the fish, sea horse, crabs and many more. They also have religious carvings, paintings as well as decorative wood products such as plates and large wooden spoons and forks.

Biloxi Hurricane Monuments

This is Hurricane Katrina Memorial, located in front of HardRock Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi along Highway 90 in route of Gulf Coast.
The story behind the monument. Just click the picture to read the text.
The view in front of the monument. That building is the HardRock Casino garage. The back of that building is already the Biloxi Harbor. The water surge came to where I stand as high as 12 feet. Katrina monument height is the level of water surge coming from that Harbor.
Hurricane Camille Memorial in Biloxi, Mississippi. The skeleton steel post at the end is a church which was knocked down by Hurricane Katrina. Every building surrounding this memorial were washed out.
A collage of the Hurricane Camille.
The view in front of this monument. Highway 90 , part of Gulf Coast...beautiful scenery.

Katrina Sculptures In Biloxi

Beautiful, that is the right description for the place called Biloxi in Mississippi. I thought that having to live here would be hard. We came from Orlando, Florida but, knowing the piece of history, I began to love this place. I know that this place suffered from hurricane Katrina (2005) and hurricane Camille (1969) but, I truly admire how the people here came in unity and stand up to build this place once again. What I am showing you here is the KATRINA SCULPTURES. I took these pictures because they are unique, creative and a masterpiece. It was in January 2007, Mayor A.J. Holloway and city Public Affairs Manager Vincent Creel spoke with Mississippi “chainsaw artist” Dayton Scoggins about sculpting marine-related figures from the standing dead trees in the median of Beach Boulevard in Biloxi. The trees were damaged by the saltwater storm surge of Hurricane Katrina last August 9, 2005. Scoggins created egrets, seagulls, pelicans and dolphins from a collection of dead trees just west of the Biloxi Lighthouse. Scoggins's initial five sculptures are worth $7,000 investment for the city. A sculptor and frequent Biloxi visitor from Fort Walton Beach, Florida named Marlin Miller was inspired to approach the city about donating his time and talent to sculpting more standing dead trees in the center medians in Biloxi. And knowing that very admirable offer, "HE IS A PATRIOT". Rarely you would see people extending their talent, skills and time for FREE. So, MARLIN MILLER, you are a Patriot and I salute you for that. Miller's represent the majority of the 20 works of art in Biloxi . Let it be known that during his multiple sculpting visits, he has refused any reimbursement or payment for his public works of art. Thumbs Up, right? A visitor survey by the Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau reported that the sculptures are one of the top attractions in the Mississippi Coast. And I am one of them that admires the beautiful Katrina Sculptures in Biloxi.