[1] On March 3, 1847, the United States Congress authorized $12,000 for the construction of a lighthouse at Biloxi.

The United States Department of the Treasury structured a contract, dated October 15, 1847, to the Baltimore foundry of Murray and Hazlehurst to build an iron lighthouse for $6,347.

Mary Reynolds, with a "large family of orphan children" was appointed keeper on April 11, 1854.

"I ascended the Tower during and after the last destructive storm when man stood appalled at the danger I encountered.

"[4] During a storm in 1860, a portion of the sand under the lighthouse eroded, causing the structure to lean.

"[4] In 1898, a telephone cable was laid by Reese Hutchinson between the Biloxi and the Ship Island lighthouses at the start of the Spanish–American War.

Maria Younghans retired on December 31, 1918, and was replaced by her daughter, Miranda, who remained as keeper until 1929.

[10][11] A press release from the Mississippi State Tax Commission, which designed and issued the plates, acknowledged the Light as "a building of historical importance" that "has long been recognized as a landmark of the Mississippi Gulf Coast".

Inside the lighthouse, blue lines were painted on the wall to mark historic storm surges above 'mean sea level' (msl).

[12] The City of Biloxi has live footage of a view from inside the lighthouse posted to their website.