Events & Festivals (See www.gazebogazette.com for details)

Pass Christian History

Pass Christian, a charming oceanfront community…
…of about 6,500, has been long been known for its beautiful homes. In the 1930’s, many of its residents were commuters who worked in New Orleans. That was a long way to travel in those days, but Pass Christian’s special appeal made it worthwhile.

Pass Christian was discovered by French-Canadian explorers in 1699, shortly after the first French colony was established in Biloxi. The community was named for the deep-water pass in the Mississippi Sound.

Many of Pass Christians beautiful waterfront homes date back to the 1850s, an era of great prosperity for the city. Although it was known primarily as a vacation getaway, it soon gained importance as a regional trading center.
After the Civil War, local business got an additional boost from a new rail line that passed through Pass Christian from New Orleans to Mobile.

The seafood industry has been an anchor in the local economy for many years. The oyster reef that lies just offshore is among the largest on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the city’s Scenic Drive Historic District.  There are still many homes on the east end of the Pass that are being restored which still offer a glimpse of Pass Christian’s earlier days, when there were more than 100 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another historic site, the Pass Christian Yacht Club, the home of Southern yachting, was formed in 1849 and is the second-oldest yacht club in North America, just behind New York, the oldest.  It is in the process of being rebuilt and will be open by April, 2008.

Pass Christian is governed by a mayor and five elected aldermen. Its Police Department employs about 23 people full-time, and the Fire Department has about 23 employees.

Organizations (for more Information see the Calendar in Gazebo Gazette)

Restaurants