The Harrison County seawall was designed and constructed nearly 100 years ago. This ubiquitous coastal feature defines the beaches and protects the road that run adjacent to it for over 25 miles. From the beginning, the engineer who researched, planned, designed, and oversaw the construction, Hobart D. Shaw, envisioned more than just a protective wall, but also saw a landscaped four lane boulevard, parking bays, attractive lighting, sidewalk, and sand beaches to create a perfect setting and backdrop for the growing tourist industry in a coastal community. Gulfport architect and grandson of the chief engineer Philip W. Shaw draws on a wealth of century old documents, photos, and other records inherited from the founder of the Shaw design legacy on the Mississippi gulf coast. Take a visual walk along the seawall and enjoy the story of how this coastal feature protects and defines our coastal environment.
