About this city
Also known as: A Place Apart
Beautifully positioned on the western shore of the Bay of St. Louis along the scenic Mississippi Sound, Bay St. Louis serves as the county seat of Hancock County. First charted by French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in 1699, the city developed during the 19th century into a fashionable summer resort destination for wealthy New Orleans families seeking coastal escapes and cooling sea breezes. Despite suffering severe destruction from Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the city underwent an extraordinary coastal renaissance. Today, Bay St. Louis is widely celebrated as a premier eclectic arts community, pairing miles of uncrowded sandy beaches with a historic downtown packed with independent galleries, seafood bistros, and historic architecture.
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Economics & Local Vibe
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–2 days
Stroll or bike along the historic storefronts and galleries of Old Town Bay St. Louis. Relax on the smooth, uncrowded sands of Bay St. Louis Beach. Explore regional coastal folklife and creative pottery exhibits at the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum.
