Vicksburg National Military Park, located in Vicksburg, Mississippi, commemorates the pivotal Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 β July 4, 1863) during the American Civil War. The Union victory, led by Major General Ulysses S. Grant, gave the Union control of the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy.
The park, established in 1899, features over 1,300 monuments, markers, and plaques, including the Illinois Memorial and the USS Cairo, a Union ironclad warship that was sunk in 1862 and later raised and restored. The park also includes the Vicksburg National Cemetery, where over 17,000 Union soldiers are buried.
As of 2026, the park continues to be a site for historical education and remembrance, offering guided tours, interpretive programs, and a visitor center with exhibits on the siege and its impact. The park is managed by the National Park Service.
