Historic Preservation Commission

The City of Gautier Historic Preservation Commission is devoted to the preservation and education of historical sites and landmarks within the City of Gautier. This commission serves as an advisory board on the designation of historic districts, landmarks, and landmark sites. The commission has 5 commissioners who meet every three months. Each commissioner is appointed by the City Council and serves a three-year term.

Current and past projects taken on by the GHPC include:

• Restoration and renovation of the Gautier Historic Schoolhouse (formerly known as the West Pascagoula Colored School). The one-room schoolhouse, located at the entrance of George Martin City Park, was built in the early 1920’s for local Black children. Jackson County purchased land at the northeast corner of De La Pointe Drive and Point Bayou Road and appropriated $200 for construction of the school. Patrons raised an additional $500 and furnished the labor for construction of the West Indies style building, which featured eighteen-paned glass windows. A local sawmill provided heart pine wood from virgin timber. A pot-belly coal-burning stove located in the middle of the room provided the only heat. As many as 22 children from the ages of six to sixteen years of age would crowd into the small building. Since there were no chalkboards, the children wrote with broken oyster shells on pieces of roofing slate.
• Reprint of Gautier, MS: A Short History, a local history book originally assembled and edited by former GHPC Commissioner Jack M. Womack in 2012 and updated in 2021 by the GHPC. This hardcover book was reprinted through a MDAH Certified Local Government Grant and is available to the public by request (donation suggested). 
• Gautier Historical Sites: The GHPC selected locations around Gautier and created a self-guided driving tour of the historic sites. Brochures are available at Gautier City Hall and the Mississippi Visitors Center on Interstate 10. Many of these historic sites have informational markers. The driving tour includes stops such as Martin Cemetery, the Jean Baptiste Graveline marker, St. Pierre's Episcopal Church, Tucei's Fish Camp, Graveline Indian Mound, New Era Missionary Church, Gautier Beachfront Historic District, and more.

Currently, the Historic Preservation Commission is seeking members to fill vacancies! Nominees should have demonstrated knowledge of or interest in historic preservation. Interested persons should submit a resume detailing relevant historical education or experience to Babs Logan at blogan@gautier-ms.gov.