The Vicksburg National Military Park was established by Congress on February 21, 1899, to commemorate one of the most decisive battles of the American Civil War, the campaign, siege and defense of Vicksburg.

The battlefield at Vicksburg is now in an excellent state of preservation, encompassing over 1,800 acres. It includes 1,325 historic monuments and markers, 20 miles of reconstructed trenches and earthworks, a 16 mile tour road, antebellum home, 144 emplaced cannon, restored Union gunboat-USS Cairo, and the Vicksburg National Cemetery.

Click HERE for the NMP Website

Replica setups are all over the grounds to enhance the Visitors experience

They keep a few of the cannons polished up

Battery Degolyer - Tour Stop 1

As you drive thru, there are thousands of memorials as well as what they call "Stops" which are areas of battle.

Glenda standing by one of the cannons in this bunker

The State of Illinois erected a huge memorial / shrine, which housed the names of thousands on the brass plates inside.

The Shirley House, an Antebellum home was caught in the middle of the battles.

Click HERE to read more

The Vicksburg campaign was waged from March 29 to July 4, 1863. It included battles in west-central Mississippi at Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Big Black River and 47 days of Union siege operations against Confederate forces defending the city of Vicksburg. Located high on the bluffs, Vicksburg was a fortress guarding the Mississippi River. It was known as "The Gibraltar of the Confederacy." Its surrender on July 4, 1863, coupled with the fall of Port Hudson, Louisiana, divided the South, and gave the North undisputed control of the Mississippi River.