About Ship Island

Daily excursion ferries visit West Ship Island, part of Gulf Islands National Seashore and one of the five Mississippi barrier islands that help form the Mississippi Sound, located approximately 11 miles south of Gulfport and Biloxi. The unspoiled sand island is home to historic Fort Massachusetts (circa 1858). The fort is open to visitors during the season the ferries operate (March through October).The ferries dock at the end of a 400 foot pier near the fort, on Mississippi Sound side or north shore of West Ship Island.

The National Park Service provides a boardwalk that begins in front of the fort and extends one third of a mile across the island to the south beach and the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors are bestowed with miles of high quality natural beaches and clean gulf water for swimming. Restrooms, fresh water showers and a small snack bar are located on the boardwalk.

Be prepared for extreme heat and humidity during summer. You can receive an historic sunburn on Ship Island if you are not prepared. Use sunscreen and protective clothing. Shaded picnic tables are located near the snack bar. Drinking water is available. Beach chair and umbrella rentals are also available on the gulf beach near the end of the board walk. Although food service is available on the ferry and island, passengers are allowed a small amount of carry-on items. But, visitors must pack out whatever they bring to the island, including litter. Large coolers (over 42 quarts) are not allowed due to limited storage space on the ferries. Don’t over pack. Wagons, large strollers, non folding luggage carriers and bulky items not permitted. Glass bottles and metal detectors are prohibited by the National Park Service. Sorry no pets. The lower decks of the ferries are handicapped accessible. Call for additional information (228)864-1014.

Ship Island is a favorite getaway for both the nature lover and the history buff. Part of Gulf Islands National Seashore and protected by the National Park Service, the unspoiled island is home to an interesting variety of plants and wildlife, including many species of migratory birds. Warm tidal pools and wind shaped sand dunes crowned with sea oats help the island retain much of its natural beauty.

Ship Island has played an important role in the history and settlement of the Gulf Coast. The island was named in 1699 by French explorers who were impressed with the protected, deep-water anchorage it offered their ships. The island soon became an important port for French Louisiana. Many colonists took their first steps on American soil at Ship Island and it is considered the "Plymouth Rock" of the Gulf Coast.

National Park Service Tours are available.

The Island also became a prison for Confederate P.O.W.'s, and a base for the U.S. Second Regiment (Louisiana Native Guards), one of the first African
American combat units to fight in the Civil War. The National Park Service provides tours of Fort Massachusetts during March thru October. Learn more about the LA Native Guard (Black Union Troops) from a special feature by poet Natasha Tretheway on SouthernSpaces.com and PBS.org












This image courtesy of C.P. weaver, editor, Thank God My Regiment An African One, LSU Press

For more information about Ship Island or Gulf Islands National Seashore, please call (228) 875-9057 or write to: Mississippi District Superintendent, 3500 Park Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

The Islands and Hurricane Katrina, August 29, 2005

Although West Ship Island and Fort Massachusetts survived the hurricane with very little damage, much of East Ship Island remains underwater. Click Here to see images before and after the 2005 storm from a special feature by Pulitzer Prize winning poet Natasha Tretheway.