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Grass Lawn
For more than a century and a half this home meant so much to Gulfport that it was given its own place on the city's official seal (lower left corner of seal).
The resurrection of this great Southern home following Hurricane Katrina is a stunning symbol of our city’s recovery; a glaring reminder of what we’ve been through and just how far we’ve come.
History
Located on East Beach in Gulfport overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Grass Lawn was built in 1836 as a summer home by Dr. Hiram A. Roberts, a Port Gibson surgeon and land owner who also maintained sugar plantations in Louisiana.
The house was constructed of hand-hewn pine and cypress timbers held together with wooden pegs. The 10 foot-wide galleries supported by two-story box columns were enclosed by wooden balustrades with balusters of triangular design—Grass Lawn's trademark.
The interior included three 20-by-20-foot rooms on each floor. The wide flooring was of edge grain heart pine. The mantels in the west rooms were of white marble and those in the east rooms, black marble. All were identically styled.
The original property included 235 acres of orchards and gardens. In 1905 after the property was subdivided, Grass Lawn was purchased by John Kennedy Milner who later became owner of the Coast Coca-Cola Bottling Company, one of the foremost firms of its kind in Mississippi.
Because of political, historical and architectural significance, Grass Lawn was placed on the national register of historic Places in 1972. It remained in the Milner Family until it was bought by the City of Gulfport in 1973.
Furnishings
At the time of Hurricane Katrina, the furnishings found in Grass Lawn were from the first half of the nineteenth century. While there were several nice pieces on display, it was the goal of the Old Spanish Trail Heritage Foundation Inc. to add appropriate pieces of furniture, china, rugs, and art to the collection.
Activities
For decades, Grass Lawn was a popular location for weddings, receptions and various parties. It was featured as the "Hospitality house" in Gulfport for the Annual Spring Pilgrimage sponsored by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Council of Garden Clubs. The City of Gulfport also used it to entertain dignitaries visiting the Coast. Educational tours were another amenity provided by this iconic and historical landmark.
