Must-Visit Tourist Attractions in Vicksburg
USS CAIRO MUSEUM
The USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum is a part of the expansive Vicksburg National Military Park and is an original Civil War ironclad vessel that was torpedoed and sunk in 1862, and was later raised in 1964 after spending over 100 years at the bottom of the murky Yazoo River. Today, visitors can climb aboard this historic warship and check out some of the original equipment used by the Union army, including weapons and personal gear.
Vicksburg Riverfront Murals
Check out the impressive series of Vicksburg Riverfront Murals. Painted on Mississippi River floodwalls, the project began in 2002 and continues to serve as a community staple of Vicksburg. The murals capture the past, present and future of Vicksburg and its defining roles in history, culture, religion and more. One of the murals depicts the production and bottling of Coca-Cola™ soda, while another shows a sunset over the Mississippi River.
Lower Mississippi River Museum
For an exciting afternoon the entire family will enjoy, visit the Lower Mississippi River Museum to learn about the vast history of the Mississippi from a variety of interactive exhibits. Find out how Vicksburg ancestors lived along the river during the 19th and 20th centuries beginning with a showing at the Orientation Theater.
Explore the “River as a Highway” exhibit to learn about water transportation along the Mississippi, and make your way to the museum’s replica tent from the devastating 1927 flood, a representation of what many families had to live in. The Lower Mississippi River Museum also offers an aquarium featuring local fish species and a Mississippi River Flood Model.
Illinois Monument at the Vicksburg National Military Park
At the Vicksburg National Military Park, be greeted by the sweeping Illinois Monument, one of about 1,400 statues and memorials at the park. Climb the 47 steps to the entrance of this marble structure, featuring a domed roof, pillars and sculpted bronze bald eagle on top. Dedicated in 1906, the memorial still stands as one of the most impressive in Vicksburg National Military Park.
Contact Visit Vicksburg to learn more about the tourist attractions in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
