Vicksburg National Military Park established

Background. The park preserves the site of the Siege of Vicksburg, waged from March 29 to July 4, 1863, during the American Civil War. It commemorates the greater Vicksburg campaign that led up to the battle. The site includes 1,325 historic monuments, 20 miles of earthworks, and the restored gunboat USS Cairo, which was sunk on the Yazoo River in December 1862.

Establishment. The national military park was officially established on February 21, 1899, to commemorate the siege and defense of Vicksburg. The park is located in Vicksburg, Mississippi, flanking the Mississippi River. It serves as a memorial to the Civil War events, including the Union Army's attempt to build a canal to bypass Confederate artillery fire.

Park Features. The park includes 1,325 historic monuments and markers, 20 miles of historic trenches, and 144 emplaced cannons. It features the restored gunboat USS Cairo, sunk in 1862, and the Grant's Canal site. The park also contains two antebellum homes and a 12.5-mile walking trail, preserving the physical landscape of the 1863 siege.