This Mississippi Island Has A Long And Interesting Past That's Better Than Fiction
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published February 17, 2018
×
Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
There are a lot of great attractions in Mississippi. And as an added bonus, some of the state’s best sites also happen to be loaded with history. This definitely holds true for Cat Island. One of the state’s barrier islands, the tropical spot has long been a favorite of both locals and tourists. However, the island’s history goes back much further than its days as a popular fishing and camping spot. Take a look:
Referred to as the "gem of the Gulf Islands National Seashore," Cat Island is located just off Mississippi’s coast, between Pass Christian and Gulfport.
Supposedly, Juan de Cuevas fired the first shots against the British in the War of 1812 from Cat Island. As legend goes, de Cuevas woke up in December 1814 to find hundreds of enemy war ships in his front yard. For his actions, de Cuevas later became known as the "hero of Cat Island."
The War of 1812 is just part of Cat Island’s interesting past. Though no longer in existence, the island actually had one of the very first lighthouses on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.
Because of its seclusion, it was a popular spot among pirates and criminals. Notorious thieves, such as Jean Lafitte and the James Copeland Gang, allegedly buried their stolen loot on the island.
At one time, Cat Island served as an encampment site for Seminole Indians. As part of the Trail of Tears, the tribe was kept on the island until being moved to a reservation in Oklahoma.
The most peculiar time in Cat Island’s history was probably during WWII, when it was used as a secret military site. During this time, the U.S. government attempted to train dogs to sniff out the Japanese enemy because it was believed that the Japanese had a distinct odor.
