Nestled in a shallow valley near the confluence of Bayou Pierre and Little Bayou Pierre, the town "too beautiful to burn" was formally established on March 12, 1803, although the area had seen European settlers since 1729.  Serving as the county seat of Claiborne County, Mississippi since its incorporation, Port Gibson briefly became the focus of national attention in 1863 when Gen. U.S. Grant made the town the first objective in his soon to be famous Vicksburg Campaign.  Reputed to have declared the town as "too beautiful to burn", Grant moved on to cement his place in American history, leaving Port Gibson intact.  In the 1960's, Port Gibson again became a focus of national attention when it became the locale of the longest black boycott during the Civil Rights Era.  Despite the vicissitudes of time, war, neglect, and accident, Port Gibson retains many of the homes, commercial structures, and houses of worship that have seen the march of history parade through this city.

 This page features some of the historic structures that make Port Gibson the town"too beautiful to burn". Because of the threat posed by MDOT's plans concerning Highway 61, the threatened buildings along Church Street will predominate until the Second Battle of Port Gibson is resolved.

             
              Temple Gemiluth Chassed, 1892                                                                Oak Square, 1845-1906

                    
                       Englesing Home, 1817-1851                                                          St. Peter's AME Church, 1885

   
                            Gage House, 1830                                                     Disharoon Home (Gibson's Landing), 1830

All photographs by S.B. Magruder, all rights reserved