Grass Lawn (sometimes written Grasslawn) Antebellum Home, also known as the Milner Home, was located in Gulfport MS on 235 acres overlooking the Mississippi Sound. It was constructed in 1836 as a summer home for Dr. Hiram A. Roberts, a successful sugar plantation owner from Port Gibson, La. The Home was designed in Greek Revival style architecture. It was unique in that it was built with wood-pegged construction with hand-hewed longleaf pine and walls of bald cypress. Heart-pine lumber was used as flooring, and fireplace mantels were composed of either black or white marble. The 2-story home had 10-foot-wide porches supported by box columns. Throughout the years the property was subdivided and in 1905 John Kennedy Milner purchased the home. Milner later became owner of the Coke Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Gulfport. Grasslawn has a political, historical, and architectural significance and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed Grass Lawn and in the aftermath of this historical storm government official committed to construct an accurate period-style replica of Grass Lawn to serve as a visible reminder of historic buildings along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Dubbed as Grasslawn II, it was built and designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2010.
Address: 720 East Beach Blvd.
City: Gulfport
County: Harrison
Phone: 228.669.3292
Hours of operation: By Appointment Only
Accessibility: this site is shown by appointment only; can be viewed from vehicle/street; let them know if you need any disability specific accommodations