Vicksburg Celebrates Bicentennial

Vicksburg National Military Park

Vicksburg hails back to 1811, but most visitors equate the Mississippi town with its Civil War history as the site of a major battle that resulted in the Confederacy losing control of the Mississippi River. Since then, the river changed course and Vicksburg reinvented itself with new businesses and casinos. But its history remains in the Vicksburg National Military Park and the city’s beautiful historic buildings.

This year, Vicksburg celebrates its city’s incorporation in 1825 with a long list of bicentennial events. The fun begins January 29 with a storytelling symposium, parade, banquet and other community events. You can find more information at vicksburg200.com.

Civil War Colt 49 at the Vicksburg Civil War Museum

Day One

Morning After a European-style breakfast at downtown’s Bohemia Cafe and Bakery, walk off the calories by grabbing a Vicksburg Heritage Walking Trails map from the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at 52 Old Highway 27, or visit visitvicksburg.com/walking-trails for an online version. Several routes ranging from 1.5 to 3 miles guide visitors through the historic downtown and neighborhoods. Pause at Catfish Row Children’s Art Park to enjoy regional art pieces and a play area for children, plus the 32-panel Vicksburg Riverfront Murals.

Afternoon Continue the downtown stroll to visit museums, art galleries, boutiques and restaurants, most of which are conveniently located on Washington Street. Attractions that tell the Vicksburg story include the Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum, the Old Court House Museum where visitors can view the largest collection of Civil War artifacts in the South, the Old Depot Museum that contains a diorama of the battlefield and the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum in the building Joseph Biedenharn first bottled the now famous drink.

Carve out time for the Attic Gallery, a shop perched at the top of stairs like heaven, filled with a wide assortment of Southern art.

Evening Enjoy a signature cocktail and tasty appetizers at 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill where visitors will find the best view in town — including sunsets — of Vicksburg’s surrounding waterways: the Mississippi River, Yazoo Diversion Canal and Centennial Lake. Then head for a dinner of Southern favorites in the elegant dining rooms of Anchuca situated within the 1830s Anchuca Historic Mansion & Inn.

10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill

Day Two

Morning Before the Mississippi River changed course, Vicksburg served as a major port city, with prosperous cotton fields on either side on the river. The city’s wealth and location is why Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant sought to capture the city to stop the flow of Confederate supplies. By the spring of 1863, only Vicksburg and Port Hudson in Louisiana held control of the river. Grant surrounded Vicksburg and performed an assault on the Confederate forces — and the town with residual warfare — from March 29 to July 4, 1863, when Vicksburg finally surrendered, followed by Port Hudson, and the river fell to Union hands. The battlefield is now part of the Vicksburg National Military Park where visitors may learn this Civil War history while walking or driving through the peaceful setting.

All that history will make you hungry, so head south on U.S. Highway 61 for a culinary and visual treat. The colorful Tomato Place serves up Southern favorites, fresh produce, plants and regional art in what used to be a side-of-the-road fruit stand.

Afternoon African American resident Charles Pendleton showcases his impressive Civil War collection at the nonprofit Vicksburg Civil War Museum. He aims to showcase all sides of the conflict, including the role of slavery, and to teach about the contributions of African Americans in the fight. The museum includes a slave cabin, Pendleton’s artillery shell collection and firearms — what he believes is the largest collection of Civil War guns in Mississippi — medical instruments and uniforms and artifacts from the daily life of soldiers.

Spread at Key City Brewing

Evening The McRaven Home, sections of which date to 1797, rests at the end of a dead-end street, which is fitting since the dead are believed to roam both house and grounds. McRaven has been named as one of the top haunted places in Mississippi, and for good reason. Several of its past owners, plus soldiers who died on the grounds during the Civil War conflict, have been seen or heard there. Both historic and ghost tours are offered year-round, and occasionally, McRaven features a paranormal investigation that’s open to the public.

For spirits of another kind, sample beers such as Mr. Sippi at Key City Brewing Co. within the Cottonwood Public House in downtown Vicksburg. Visitors and locals alike hang out at Cottonwood, enjoying craft beer, trivia night and unique pizzas.

Don’t Forget

Vicksburg offers numerous bed and breakfasts, many dating to the Civil War. Some even contain a few guests who have yet to check out.