Civil War Attractions in the Magnolia State – Visit Mississippi

Vicksburg National Military Park

Tate Nations — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 19:46:04 +0000

Commemorating one of the Civil War’s pivotal campaigns, Vicksburg National Military Park is arguably Mississippi’s most renowned historical attraction. Confederate President Jefferson Davis himself referred to Vicksburg as the “nailhead that holds the South’s two halves together,” and there’s no better way to explore the significant role the city played throughout the Civil War than by discovering the park’s many attractions firsthand. Vicksburg National Military Park is jam-packed with attractions that serve as a testament to the location’s prominent place in American history. More than 1,400 memorial monuments, tablets and markers dot the 1,800-acre park to honor soldiers who served on both sides of the Civil War. The park also features an impressive 20 miles of trenches and earthworks that have been reconstructed to reflect days gone by. The USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum are also located within the park, enabling visitors to view the restored vessel, along with Civil War-era artifacts recovered during the boat’s excavation.

The military park’s scenic, and often hilly, roads are popular with cyclists and walkers. Cycling, including the use of e-bikes, is permitted on park roads and parking lots only.

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Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library

Edie Kay Conner — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:29:39 +0000

The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, located on the fouth floor of Mississippi State University’s Mitchell Memorial Library, is a rich collection of items related to the 18th president of the United States. Established in 2012, it houses over 15,000 items including correspondence, photos, and memorabilia covering Grant’s life, from his early days to his presidency and beyond.

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Longwood

randylynn — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 21:53:44 +0000

Longwood is a historic mansion located in Natchez. It is the largest octagonal house in the United States, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark. The home was designed in the Oriental Villa style, with a unique onion-shaped dome on the highest of its six floors. Construction began in 1860 and was halted a year later due to the outbreak of the Civil War, leaving only nine rooms of the home’s basement level finished. The home, which is one of Natchez’s most visited attractions, is open for tours year-round.

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A.K. Shaifer House

randylynn — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:33:08 +0000

The A.K. Shaifer House is a historic early 19th-century residence located near Port Gibson, Mississippi, that played a pivotal role in the American Civil War. Built in the late 1820s by Abram Keller Shaifer Sr. and his wife, the two-story cypress home was the site where Confederate pickets first exchanged fire with advancing Union forces, marking the opening of the Battle of Port Gibson during General Ulysses S. Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign. During and after the battle, the house served as the headquarters of Union General John A. McClernand and as a hospital for wounded soldiers. Preserved as a historic site and under the care of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the A.K. Shaifer House stands as one of the few original structures remaining from the Port Gibson battlefield.

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The Belmont

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 15:35:22 +0000

Belmont Plantation, Est 1857 is the last antebellum mansion along the river in the Mississippi Delta, standing at over 9,000 square feet. The house and the grounds have undergone an extensive restoration and all rooms are available for weddings, events, tours, B&B accommodations, and corporate retreats!

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Tupelo National Battlefield

Edie Kay Conner — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:18:35 +0000

Tupelo National Battlefield on Main Street marks a significant Civil War clash from July 1864. This 1-acre park features a grassy area with a flagpole, monument, and cannons, honoring those who fought. Visitor information is available at the Natchez Trace Parkway center, six miles away.

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Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana

Edie Kay Conner — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:25:58 +0000

Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana is located on the 4th floor in the Mitchell Memorial Library. It represents a lifetime of collecting documents, books, artifacts, ephemera, philately, numismatics, paintings, and statuary related to the life of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War in general.

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Crossroads Museum

Edie Kay Conner — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 20:04:29 +0000

The Crossroads Museum, located in Corinth, is a vibrant center featuring exhibits on topics such as Native American history and the Civil War. The museum offers visitors an educational experience, along with access to the Margaret Greene Rogers Library and a gift shop. It also offers attractions like a vintage train caboose and a Civil War cannon in the courtyard, as well as rental spaces and community events.

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Corinth Contraband Camp

Edie Kay Conner — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 21:13:53 +0000

The Corinth Contraband Camp stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of enslaved individuals seeking freedom during the American Civil War. Established as a refuge behind Union lines, it provided shelter, education, and economic opportunities to thousands of escaped slaves. This historic site symbolizes the journey to freedom undertaken by those who sought refuge there, commemorated today through life-size bronze sculptures depicting their struggle and resilience.

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Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site

Edie Kay Conner — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 23:04:25 +0000

Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site in Baldwyn, Mississippi, marks the Confederate victory in the 1864 Battle of Brices Cross Roads, where General Nathan Forrest’s outnumbered troops halted Union General William Sherman’s advance. Visitors can explore the battlefield’s preserved landscapes and learn about this moment in American Civil War history.

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Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center

emilysteen — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:06:19 +0000

For six months in 1862, Corinth, a critical railroad junction, captured the full attention of a divided nation. Today, one of the National Park Service’s newest visitor centers interprets the key role of Corinth, Mississippi in the Civil War’s Western Theater.

The 15,000 sq. ft. modern facility features interactive exhibits, a multimedia presentation on the Battle of Shiloh, and a video on the Battle of Corinth. The interpretive center stands near the site of Battery Robinett, a Union fortification witness to bloody fighting during the October, 1862 Battle of Corinth.

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Grand Gulf Military Park

Tate Nations — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 18:38:49 +0000

In May of 1962, the Grand Gulf Military Monument Park was officially opened, dedicated to preserving the memory of both the town and the battle in which occurred there. Located eight miles northwest of Port Gibson, Mississippi off Highway 61, this 450 acre landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes Fort Cobun and Fort Wade, the Grand Gulf Cemetery, a museum, campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, an observation tower, and several restored buildings dating back to Grand Gulf’s heyday.

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