Vicksburg: History on the Mississippi

Vicksburg combines Civil War history with exhibits about the Mississippi and the city’s cultural history. During your stay, these themes are easy to distinguish: Vicksburg National Military Park and the National Cemetery commemorate the siege and the war; museums explore the river, collections, and local culture. Trails and natural features round out the picture. You can plan your visits around the topics that interest you most.

Civil War History at the Park, Cemetery, and Home

Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates the 47-day siege of Vicksburg. The official NPS app provides information about the park’s history and options for audio tours. Check the app’s availability before your visit.

Vicksburg National Cemetery was established in 1866 as the final resting place for soldiers who lost their lives during the Civil War campaign, the siege, and the occupation of Vicksburg. Seventy-five percent of the Civil War dead buried there are listed as unidentified. Pemberton’s Headquarters is the home where Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton lived during the siege. He held a council of his senior officers there, where plans to surrender the city were discussed.

Museums About the River, Culture, and City History

At the Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum, visitors can see Mississippi River fish up close in a 1,515-gallon aquarium. They can also explore a scale outdoor model of a section of the Mississippi River. The Catfish Row Museum is located in the Christian and Brough Building, built in 1905. Its exhibits explore both the relationship between the river and the people who settled here, and how the experiences of African Americans have influenced the cultural heritage of Vicksburg and the Mississippi Delta.

The USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum includes an original Civil War ironclad; many USS Cairo artifacts are on display at the USS Cairo Museum. The Old Court House Museum is housed in a building that originally served as the Warren County courthouse. Its exhibits include antique furniture, Confederate flags, antebellum-era clothing, Native American and pioneer-era objects, and fine portraits.

The visual displays also highlight different themes: the Old Depot Museum features a detailed diorama of the siege of Vicksburg and 40 original paintings by Herb Mott on military themes. The Vicksburg Riverfront Murals comprise 32 lifelike images depicting periods in the city’s history. The city’s local industrial history also includes the fact that Coca-Cola was first bottled in downtown Vicksburg in 1894.

Nature and Trails in Vicksburg

The waterfall at Mint Spring Bayou is designated a Mississippi State Natural Feature. Prairie Nymph (Herbertia lahue) grows in abundance along the mowed landscape beside the Tour Road that runs through Vicksburg National Military Park. Vicksburg is also an important site along the National Audubon Society’s Great River Birding Trail.

There are different points of reference for trails in the city and the park: the Vicksburg Heritage Walking Trails comprise five self-guided routes with 35 markers in downtown and the historic districts. The national Mississippi River Trail runs through the heart of downtown. The 16-mile Tour Road is designed for pedestrians and offers loop routes from three to 16 miles. Information about routes, markers, and loop lengths helps distinguish the different trail options.

For an overview of the wider trip: Warren.