Thom and I enjoy the national parks that our great country has and today we added another to the list ... Vicksburg National Military Park that included the U.S.S. Cairo Museum as well as the Vicksburg National Cemetery. But before we toured the Vicksburg National Military Park, we first visited the Old Depot Museum, which the city tour guide reads "needs to be seen before visiting the Vicksburg National Military Park". The 47-day siege between the Union and the Confederates is brought to life in this museum using a 250 square foot diorama of the battlefield with 2300 miniature soldiers. There are also models and exhibits of ships and tow boats, river boats, and a large Civil War gunboat collection and U.S. Navy vessels named for people and places in Mississippi, not to mention trains. Put the three museums together and you get a real sense of what that siege must have been like.
Now, for your viewing pleasure, I have compiled some of the photos taken today of the Old Depot Museum, Vicksburg National Military Park, and the U.S.S. Cairo Museum (Cairo, pronounced care-o), as well as the Vicksburg National Cemetery. I must say at this time, it was "cannon heaven" for my wonderful husband!
Old Depot Museum
One of many train sets depicting transportation in Vicksburg.
Diorama of the siege.
Part of the 250 square foot diorama of the 47-day siege.
To see the entire diorama and then to visit the actual battlefield is truly great advice!
This is "The Shirley House", built in the late 1830's by Nicholas Gray. Judge James Shirley and family were living in the house at the beginning of the siege. Later, in the photos below of the park, is an actual photo of this home.
On May 22, 1863 - Opposing Forces - 40,000 Union troops attack the 32,000 Confederates defending Vicksburg. At the end of the siege, Union troops outnumbered over 75,000 and the Confederates had 32,000 soldiers, only 15,000 were in condition to fight.
A model of the U.S.S. Cairo.
One of the many paddleboat models on display at the Old Depot Museum.
Vicksburg National Military Park
The park is filled with monuments and canons with signs depicting Union lines and Confederate lines. This is an absolutely beautiful drive, where one can look at the terrain and envision the Union and Confederate soldiers fighting for their lives, sometimes 15 feet from each other loading their weapons. I will add a comment here and there but the photos speak for themselves.
The Shirley House (as outlined in the model at The Depot Museum)
The Illinois State Memorial
The Louisiana State Memorial
Gotcha!
Commemorating the service of the 1st and 3rd Mississippi Infantry Regiments African Descent
The emotions captured in the monuments are astounding.
Ulysses S. Grant Monument
We looked back at the monument and a bird landed on his head; you know, we had to get a photo of this!
Thom and I walked through this tunnel very quietly.
A gift from above; thank you!
Site of Interview between Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant, USA and Lt. Gen. Pemberton dated July 4, 1863
Again, I wanted to share a "zoomed" photo of the emotions of the man and of his horse!
The Missouri monument
Union monuments scattered on the hillside.
So, so pretty outside The Shirley House!
U.S.S. Cairo Museum
The U.S.S. Cairo was a "City-class ironclad gunboat constructed for the Union Navy during the Civil War. She was the lead ship and was named after Cairo, Illinois. Cairo was the first ship sunk by a naval mine on December 12, 1862 in the Yazoo River." She sunk in 12 minutes with no casualties! This gunboat was embedded in the Yazoo River for over 100 years and was raised in 1964. The following are photos of this gunboat, partially restored.
Vicksburg National Cemetery
After touring the museums and park, we headed to Goldie's Trail Bar-B-Que Restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner. We had to check it out after learning it was featured in Southern Living Magazine, Southern Magazine, and Real BBQ. Thom had ribs and I had pulled pork, which was fabulous! We were so glad we stopped here!
We're pretty sure during actual lunch and dinner times this place is packed! It was nearly 3 p.m. when we arrived!
Thom's St. Louis ribs, wet. I should have had my camera ready when he bit into the first rib - delicious!
Bonnie's pulled pork; 1/2 was brought home!
And, because we were sharing, the waitress added extra onion rings to our side!
After our delicious lupper, we headed back to the Mississippi River to look at the levee, river, and Vicksburg Murals, which are painted on the levee walls. It is a lesson in Vicksburg history via art. Enjoy the art show!
Interesting flood markings!
One of two riverboat cruise ships docked today.
The Murals
A Key Port On The Mississippi River
The Famous Teddy Bear Hunt
The World's Greatest Art Park, Vicksburg National Military Park
Leading State and U.S. African Americans
Worst U.S. Maritime Disaster: The Sultana
The Turning Point in the Civil War
The Only President of the Confederacy
Nogales: A Place of Military Importance
Home to Early American Civilization
A Legacy of Service: Sisters of Mercy
The Last Remaining Ferries on the Mississippi
The First Coca-Cola Bottling in America
A Center of Commerce at the Century's Turn
Willie Dixon: Blues Roots & Fruits
Land of Cotton: President McKinley
Vicksburg and the Flood of 1927
Carr Central School, A Positive, Lasting Impact
The Steamer Sprague: Big Mama of the Miss
A Legacy of Educating Young Men
Anderson Tully: World's Largest Hardwood Mill
Founding of Vicksburg: Vick and Methodism
Planters Hall and Vicksburg Garden Clubs
A Disaster That Won A Pulitzer Prize
Gold in the Hills
Vicksburg World Famous Sunset on the River
Rosa A. Temple High
Koestler's Christmas
Home of the Miss Mississippi Pageant
R.G. Letourneau: Industrial Evangelist
This is the original levee wall!
The Artists! BRAVO!
Tomorrow we are taking a drive on the Natchez Trail!
Until next blog ...
What a great blog post today. We are at the state rally in Ocala. There are several people here from our club and we went to a wonderful restaurant tonight, The Horse and Hound. It sounds British but there was very little of that kind of food on the menu. I had a Chef Salad and Ed had a steak. We are going to see the gypsy horses tomorrow. I will have pictures on my blog tomorrow. Have lots of fun on your journeys.
ReplyDeleteWe went there for our anniversary this past December 26th!
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