Vicksburg National Military Park and Cemetery: Battlefields and Ironclad Boat

Are National Parks and Monuments something you are interested in? Have you ever visited a National Battlefield? Arlington National Cemetery was our first battlefield to visit and so our historical interests were peaked. So, we put Vicksburg, Mississippi as a road trip stop to stretch our legs and find the past. What we saw and experienced was so much more! In this article we will show you some highlights of the Military Park, and tips for when you visit.

Why Visit Vicksburg National Military Park?

“Vicksburg is the key.” President Abraham Lincoln knew the value of the Confederate city and the vital role it would place in ending the War between the North and the South. Vicksburg National Military Park history is visible around every turn. The National Parks Service has preserved this historic battlefield in a way to walk, bike, or drive through the 1800 square miles of monuments, markers of battle regimens, cannons, and fortifications restored by the Park Service.

We were so excited and surprised to see in person one of the few recovered Ironclad ships from the Civil War, the USS Cairo. Removed from the Yazoo river and preserved, it gave us a chance to feel like we were a part of the Sahara movie finding a lost part of history. This Civil War battlefield in Mississippi gave our family a chance to see more than we expected when driving into the town of Vicksburg.

Things to see at Vicksburg National Military Park

1. Start at the Visitor Center

The Vicksburg NMP Visitor Center is a great starting point. Here we watched a very informative movie on the “Siege of Vicksburg”. One of the better movies we have watched, this 20 minute video is worth the stop. The museum within the Visitor Center shows many displays of both the Union and the Confederate sides to the Civil War. While the fort protected the city, this was also a Southern City with residents being affected by the war.

Become a Jr Ranger. William and Elizabeth had a great conversation with the Park Rangers to finish their booklet learning about the Vicksburg fort and importance in the Civil War. Then the kids were sworn in as Jr Rangers to collect their badges. B.A.R.K. Ranger for dogs is also encouraged here.

2. Drive the 16-mile Battlefield Tour

Once you leave the Visitor Center Parking lot, take the 16-mile scenic drive through the historic battlefield. Today was a rainy, foggy, and cold day. So, a driving route was the best way to see this park for us. With the rainy day, we were one of only a few cars in the parking lot. We were able to leisurely explore the park and take the time to look at all the monuments and markers.

Over 1400 monuments and markers are scattered throughout the drive. Monuments were donated by states that fought on either side of the battle. Markers will direct you to see how the soldiers advanced through the dense woods and rolling hills.

3. Illinois State Memorial

As we moved through the battlefield we came to the most known memorial in the park, Illinois State Memorial. We climbed 47 granite steps, one for each day of the Vicksburg siege. The climb took us to a round white marble building modeled after the Roman Pantheon, dedicated in 1906. Inside we watched rain mist fall through the opening in the ceiling as we walked the interior.

When we walked out of the memorial, the view that you see is completely amazing. From here you can see the hills with cannons pointed to the river. Look at the markers telling us where each regimen was advancing. This was an eerie feeling. The view was so beautiful, with so much destruction in this area.

4. Vicksburg National Cemetery

Continuing the scenic drive, you will come to one of the nation’s first National Cemeteries. Vicksburg National Cemetery no longer allows vehicles to drive through the cemetery, but you can walk on the grounds. Weather was not in our favor for the walk, so we looked from a far over this peaceful place.

Over 17,000 soldiers were buried here, it is also the largest Union Cemetery in America. Spanning from the Civil War to the Korean War, burial continued until 1961.

5. USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum

The other building hidden within the side of a hill is the USS Cairo Museum. What really caught our eye though was under the tent. We found the USS Cairo Ironclad Gunship and were amazed to find this rare ship preserved here. We love watching the movie Sahara where they found gold in a Civil War Ironclad. I didn’t know that any real ships had been saved from this time period. So many were sunk, destroyed, or sold for scrap post war.

USS Cairo sunk in the Yazoo River in 1862 after a mine exploded and sank the ship in 12 minutes. As we walked through the ship we looked for the area where the explosion sank the war vessel. Looking around the ship and walking through the almost whole ship. We were really impressed with the amount they recovered and restore.

Don’t miss the Museum located next to the USS Cairo. Artifacts recovered from the ship are within the museum, and show items used for daily life aboard the ship. The bell from the ship was also recovered. Make sure to see the video showing the recovery of the USS Cairo located in the museum display.

Tips for visiting Vicksburg National Military Park

• How to get there

Vicksburg is located on the western side of the state of Mississippi. Drive in on Interstate-20 east or west will direct you to exit at 4B and drive north 0.25 miles to the Visitor Center.

• Entrance Fee

Vicksburg NMP does have an entrance fee of $20 per vehicle. National Park sites are going to a cashless system as of 2025, so make sure to have a credit card with you. The other option is to have a National Park Pass that will cover your entrance fee. America the Beautiful pass is $80 for 12 months from the month of purchase. 4^th graders can get a year pass for free. Veterans also can get a Veterans Pass for free. These can be purchased at any National Parks Visitor Center or online at multiple different sites.

• Transportation

Traveling by vehicle is the easiest way to explore and see all the park in 1 day. With the rainy weather this was really the best option for us. Walking and biking is also great ways to get around the park. Parking in memorials parking area is a great way to get out and explore walking through the fields.

Traveling with an RV? We were. RV parking is available at the Visitor Center. These sites are not available for overnight stays, but for exploring the park area. We parked in this slot during our time inside the Visitor Center and had a great conversation with the Ranger about driving an RV down the Scenic drive.

Let’s just say that a 43 foot 5^th wheel can make the scenic drive, however we decided after the drive that it wasn’t worth stress. Today, with very few cars on the scenic drive it was a better day to try this route. But if it was at all busy, we would have changed our minds from the beginning. Additionally, there is space at the USS Cairo for the RV if not crowded.

• National Parks Cancellation Stamps

The National Parks System has a Passport program to show your visit to this park. Cancellation stamps are free and usually located at the entrance or at the bookstore of each park’s visitor center. Here you can find the stamps at the Visitor Center Ranger desk, USS Cairo Museum, and the Vicksburg National Cemetery. Buy a cancellation passport book, bring your own book or paper, or make your own sticker.

I buy the Avery/Staples Mailing labels and then can bring these with me into the parks to stamp. The mailing size labels let you place 3 cancellations stamps or larger specialty stamps. Then once I get back to the RV, I cut the excess paper off and place the sticker into our NPS passport book to document the places and dates we visited.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Vicksburg

When traveling through our road trip of the entire United States, we need quick and meaningful stops to give us a chance to explore the areas that changed the course of history. This is one of the places worth stopping. Even if it’s for 30 min or exploring the entire park over a few hours.

The kids enjoyed this stop but really enjoyed playing in the rain while walking through a Civil War Ironclad ship. That was the best part of the day. Everyone of us was just amazed at the luck of finding this ship in Mississippi and never seeing it at the huge National Museums. The beauty at this park to keep the history of the Civil War and the battle that changed the Civil War is worth the stop.

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