Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, Mississippi, preserves the site of the decisive Civil War campaign and 47-day siege that gave the Union control of the Mississippi River. After months of failed approaches, General Ulysses S. Grant executed a brilliant campaign in the spring of 1863, crossing the river south of Vicksburg, winning five battles in 17 days, and laying siege to the city's defenses. The Confederate garrison surrendered on July 4, 1863 — one day after the Union victory at Gettysburg — and President Abraham Lincoln declared that "The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the sea." The park, established in 1899, contains over 1,340 monuments, markers, and plaques; a restored Union gunboat (the USS Cairo); and the Vicksburg National Cemetery with over 17,000 Union graves.
📚 Learn More at NPSHistory.com →On May 18 - July 4, 1863, Union General Ulysses S. Grant besieged the fortress city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the Civil War's most decisive campaign.
Known as the 'Gibraltar of the Confederacy,' Vicksburg controlled the Mississippi River and was essential to Confederate supply lines. President Lincoln said 'Vicksburg is the key' to victory; the city's surrender gave the Union control of the entire Mississippi River. The 47-day siege and accompanying campaign resulted in over 40,000 total casualties and changed the war's trajectory.
Among the content targeted: “the history of Vicksburg under Union occupation during the Civil War and Reconstruction” — language that the administration has flagged for review under its directive to review historically accurate interpretive materials.
Why this matters: Vicksburg marks the moment the Union gained control of the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two. Over 500,000 people visit this site each year.
Unigrid. Text: section on the front side (VICK_S1), bottom left titled Freedom and Equality after the Siege. This version has been included since 2017. There was a previuous version titled The Occupied City. The park's enabling legislation includes period occupation/Reconstruction.
On May 28, 1990 S. 2437 significantly expanded the scope of the interpretive program beyond the interpretation of the battlefield and surviving fortifications to include “the history of Vicksburg under Union occupation during the Civil War and Reconstruction”.
SEC. 103. PARK INTERPRETATION
In administering Vicksburg National Military Park, the Secretary shall interpret the campaign and siege of Vicksburg from April 1862 to July 4, 1863, and the history of Vicksburg under Union occupation during the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Since the update in 2017, the park has not recieved any complaints concerning the text.
On May 18 - July 4, 1863, Union General Ulysses S. Grant besieged the fortress city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the Civil War's most decisive campaign.
Known as the 'Gibraltar of the Confederacy,' Vicksburg controlled the Mississippi River and was essential to Confederate supply lines. President Lincoln said 'Vicksburg is the key' to victory; the city's surrender gave the Union control of the entire Mississippi River. The 47-day siege and accompanying campaign resulted in over 40,000 total casualties and changed the war's trajectory.
Among the content targeted: “the history of Vicksburg under Union occupation during the Civil War and Reconstruction” — language that the administration has flagged for review under its directive to review historically accurate interpretive materials.
Why this matters: Vicksburg marks the moment the Union gained control of the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two. Over 500,000 people visit this site each year.
Section of the park film discusses the period of occupation and Reconstruction. The park's enabling legislation includes period occupation/Reconstruction.
On May 28, 1990 S. 2437 significantly expanded the scope of the interpretive program beyond the interpretation of the battlefield and surviving fortifications to include “the history of Vicksburg under Union occupation during the Civil War and Reconstruction”.
SEC. 103. PARK INTERPRETATION
In administering Vicksburg National Military Park, the Secretary shall interpret the campaign and siege of Vicksburg from April 1862 to July 4, 1863, and the history of Vicksburg under Union occupation during the Civil War and Reconstruction.
The film was created in 2012. The park has not received any complaints concerning the film.
On May 18 - July 4, 1863, Union General Ulysses S. Grant besieged the fortress city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the Civil War's most decisive campaign.
Known as the 'Gibraltar of the Confederacy,' Vicksburg controlled the Mississippi River and was essential to Confederate supply lines. President Lincoln said 'Vicksburg is the key' to victory; the city's surrender gave the Union control of the entire Mississippi River. The 47-day siege and accompanying campaign resulted in over 40,000 total casualties and changed the war's trajectory.
From the internal review records: “Panel is across from VC desk. Current surronding exhbits include: Next to the panel currently hangs a painting, created by a local artist and former park employee, to honor the installation of the African American Monument which honors the service of the 1st and 3rd Mississippi Infantry, African Descent (later designated as United States Colored Troop units) in Vicksburg. Also a the wayside panel...”
Why this matters: Vicksburg marks the moment the Union gained control of the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two. Over 500,000 people visit this site each year.
Causes of the Civil War. Panel put up in Visitor Center in approximately 2008. Review of this text.
Next to the panel currently hangs a painting, created by a local artist and former park employee, to honor the installation of the African American Monument which honors the service of the 1st and 3rd Mississippi Infantry, African Descent (later designated as United States Colored Troop units) in Vicksburg. Also a the wayside panel, which is also out at the monument, is temporarily on an easel to provide context. A magnetic dry erase park map for informtion and orientation.
On May 18 - July 4, 1863, Union General Ulysses S. Grant besieged the fortress city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the Civil War's most decisive campaign.
Known as the 'Gibraltar of the Confederacy,' Vicksburg controlled the Mississippi River and was essential to Confederate supply lines. President Lincoln said 'Vicksburg is the key' to victory; the city's surrender gave the Union control of the entire Mississippi River. The 47-day siege and accompanying campaign resulted in over 40,000 total casualties and changed the war's trajectory.
Why this matters: Vicksburg marks the moment the Union gained control of the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two. Over 500,000 people visit this site each year.
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