Civil War Sites
Vicksburg National Military Park, 3201 Clay St. (tel. 601/636-0583; www.nps.gov/vick), the city's best-known tourist attraction, operates under the auspices of the National Park Service. One of the oldest national parks in the country, it was established in 1899 and today draws more than one million visitors annually. Tours begin at the Visitors Center, where Confederate swords, uniforms, and other artifacts from the Siege of Vicksburg are on display. A tedious 18-minute film may stir history buffs but will bore children. It does, however, set the stage for a driving tour of the park. Get in your vehicle and go on the 16-mile self-guided trail that follows Union and Confederate siege lines. Tombstones and markers convey sobering statistics about the soldiers who suffered in the Civil War. The newest addition to the park is the Mississippi African American Monument, to honor the black soldiers who served during the Vicksburg Campaign. Aside from its rich history, the vast park is popular for such outdoor pastimes as bird-watching, hiking, and bicycling. The Visitors Center is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Admission is $8 per car.
The Old Court House Museum-Eva W. Davis Memorial, 1008 Cherry St. (tel. 601/636-0741; www.oldcourthouse.org), is a National Historic Landmark. Built by slaves in 1858, the home has seen such figures as Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, Booker T. Washington, and Theodore Roosevelt pass through its doors. Admission costs $5 adults, $3 children. In the historic downtown district, the Biedenharn Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia, 1107 Washington St. (tel. 601/638-6514), is a gaudy red-and-white shrine to all things Coke. It's in the building where Coke was first bottled in 1894. From billboards of Santa Claus sipping from ice-cold bottles to the ad-related merchandise of today, the soda shop is worth a quick peek. Admission costs $2.75 adults, $1.75 children 11 and under.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
