Biloxi, Mississippi -
Moran Art Studio - Skeletons under the Floor

Moran Art Studio - Skeletons under the Floor

Unusual display of human remains visible through glass under an artist's studio. Since Hurricane Katrina, skeletons no longer on display. Roadsideamerica.com Report...

Skeletons Under an Art Studio

The skeletons at Moran's Art Studio made it into the 2008 edition of Ripley's Believe It of Not. The book talks of the skeletons under the floor and includes a photograph. Although the studio was destroyed, the skeletons remain. The University of Southern Mississippi's archeology department has excavated several more and expect additional finds. Study and research leads the university to theorize this could be the site of the oldest European cemetery in the United States. Future plans are for a five year excavation of the property which is expected to produce a wealth of historical information. [Mike Williams, 12/06/2007]

[RA: Yea, yea, wealth of historical information... It's really too bad the Art Studio above was destroyed. The glass panel views through the floor were what made this an unusual sight. Sounds like there's zero chance of rebuilding over them now. And "Skeletons Cataloged and Stored at the University" or "Skeletons Given a Proper Burial" just doesn't make the grade.]

Moran's Skeletons in the Floor

Moran's Art is temporarily located in Ocean Springs, Ms. 1201 Bienville Blvd. ( Hwy.90 ). The skeletons were still there after the hurricane. The latest update is they are considered to be the oldest and the only French colonial burial site in the U.S. University of Southern Mississippi has most of the skeletons for safe keeping. I'd like to rebury them right where they were. [Mary Moran, 08/23/2007]

Moran's Art Studio - Skeletons under the Floor

Moran's Art Studio was on the corner of Porter and Highway 90, in Biloxi until Katrina washed the building away. The skeletons of the Indians are still there.

Moran's has temporarily relocated to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, just across the still destroyed bridge linking the two cities. It is in a cute southern style building with lots of gingerbread, known as the Doll House, on Hwy 90 just a few blocks west of Washingtion Ave. It is worth the visit and the studio has paintings and framing available.

Many of Joe Moran's paintings were lost in the many antebellum and modern homes along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but many others survived. Mary Moran, daughter, will graciously tell you of the loss the family took when the home/studio was literally washed away, with only the front steps left.

They hope to be able to return to their home plot, but the remaining Indian bones may throw a kink into the status of ownership. It is terrible to lose the family home of 86 years and studio plus possibly the earth where it was. [Hope, 10/05/2006]

Moran Art Studio - Skeletons under the Floor

Moran's Art Studio was completely destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, and there is nothing left of the property as far as I know. I went often there to buy art supplies, and always looked at the skeletal remains under the floor (when I went the lights were never on).

It is a real shame. Just thought you would like to know. [Sayward Duffano, 06/09/2006]