The USS Cairo Gunboat & Museum in Vicksburg National Military Park presents a rare glimpse into…read moreCivil War naval history through its preservation of one of the first ironclad warships in U.S. naval history. The Cairo was sunk in 1862 in the Yazoo River and lay forgotten until it was raised in 1964, revealing a time capsule of life aboard a Union gunboat. The restored vessel is a formidable testament to 19th-century engineering & military strategy. Inside the museum we saw an array of artifacts recovered from the Cairo displayed, including personal items of the crew, naval armaments & the ship's massive steam engines. Exhibits detail the Cairo's role in the river campaigns of the Civil War, its sinking by an electrically detonated mine, and the incredible salvage operation. This museum educates about the technical and military aspects of the era and tells a compelling story of innovation, warfare, and preservation.

I can't help to be amazed when I come across exhibits like this. It's not necessarily the exhibit…read moreitself, but as I stand and contemplate what type of technology was available, and then try to understand how they put things like this together, it just amazes me. American history can sometimes be thought of as dull, but I think the people who believe that lack the ability to imagine a time different than they live in. What the shipwrights had to do to create this vessel, and then consider the soldiers that served on it and the accommodations they put up with to defend our country this is just incredible. Very few today could've dealt with this type of environment. Take a few moments and close your eyes and imagine the life of a soldier on an iron side boat. This exhibit is well laid out, but it is what you make of it. Well worth the experience.

Living in West Texas, seeing lots of water is a beautiful sight. Took this route to go from…read moreMississippi to Dallas.

Did you know one of the world's most powerful earthquakes changed the course of the Mississippi…read moreRiver? Yep, this Mississippi River Bridge could be sitting on top of a ticking time bomb. Remember December 12, 2018 a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck just north of Decatur, Tenn., felt as far south as Atlanta? Fun fact, Back in 1811-1812, major earthquakes & many aftershocks struck this area. It is recorded those earthquakes opened deep fissures in the ground, causing the Mississippi River to run backwards. When you think about earthquakes in the USA, you tend to think about San Fran or LA, west coast area. But earthquakes also happen in the eastern & central US. Just recently in 2014, there was a YUGE increase in earthquakes in Oklahoma. Now, Ok is number one ranking in the U.S. However, the most seismically active area, east of the Rockies, was in the Mississippi River area now known as the New Madrid seismic zone. The "New Madrid Seismic Zone" a series of faults that run alongside the Mississippi River 150 miles from Illinois, to Arkansas. Most quakes happening here have been small to moderate, happen undetected on the surface, as the fault lines that lie under produce earthquakes not easy to see or feel in the New Madrid region because they become eroded, deeply buried by the Mississippi river sediment, which makes up the very very important Mississippi Delta. Did you know that the Mississippi River carries roughly 500 million tons of nutrient rich sediment into the Gulf of Mexico each year? The Mississippi River Delta is the silt, the wetlands, the confluence, the convergence rather, of the Mississippi River with the Gulf of Mexico. A three-million-acre area of land that stretches from Vermilion Bay on the west, to Chandeleur Islands on Louisiana's southeastern coast. It is part of the Gulf of Mexico & the Louisiana coastal plain, one of the largest areas of coastal wetlands in the US that provides an abundance of exquisite culinary foods. Home to our American Alligators & our beloved "Coypu" The coypu, also known as the nutria, is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent. They taste like chicken & make a excellent fur coat :) The Mississippi River delta is the largest & the most complex floodplain river ecosystem in the Northern Hemisphere & has ENORMOUS ecological & economic importance. The delta sustains the largest fishery by weight in the USA. 28% total volume of U.S. fisheries. It is also the winter habitat for 70% of the migrating Birds & waterfowl populations & is currently sheltering six federally listed endangered species. The wetlands that make up most of the Mississippi River Delta are an extremely valuable resource that provides critical services to all who live here called ecosystem services. These include providing seafood & wildlife for our enjoyment. The wetlands also improve water quality by filtering out pollutants, absorbing excess nutrients & replenishing aquifers. Besides all the abundance of animals, food, eco & economic systems of stability it provides, an estimated 11 million + people now live in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. In 2014 the U.S. Geological Survey & the Nuclear Regulatory Commission revealed new reports that the New Madrid Seismic Zone shows a high risk producing larger, more powerful earthquakes than previously thought. Seismologists estimate that the New Madrid Seismic Zone has a 25-40% chance of producing a significant quake in the next few years. It's said the Mississippi River could shift, become up to 300 miles wide & this beautiful majestic bridge will no longer exist. The other theory is Planet X is going to pass through our solar system soon creating a pole shift. Massive destruction would likely occur on Earth, as has been the case multiple times in the past, according to ancient records, especially around the New Madrid Fault area of the Mississippi River. The prophecies of the Holy Bible foretell severe earthquakes as a sign of the Last Days. The Mississippi River bridge, is a bridge over troubled waters. Expiration date unknown. See it while you can & pray for all that live & thrive off our beautiful, mighty Mississippi River Delta. God bless our beautiful country.

The Old Courthouse Museum is not only a stunning example of architecture but also a repository of…read moredeep cultural significance. It was built in 1858 and stood through pivotal moments in history. There is an extensive collection of Civil War artifacts, an array of items from Vicksburg's pre-war era, such as original 19th-century clothing, furniture & historical documents that offer a glimpse into daily life during that period. The museum has a dedicated exhibit to Jefferson Davis, with his personal items & documents that have stood the test of time.

A real treasure in a town that is a place very close to the heart the American experience. You…read morecould spend several hours wandering around this wonderful museum.

Founded in 1811 & incorporated as a town in 1825, Vicksburg has a rich history, which was easily…read moreexplored. Vicksburg is a small city of 20,000, in western Mississippi. It's known as the site of a key Civil War battle. The Siege of Vicksburg is commemorated at the vast Vicksburg National Military Park, which encompasses the Vicksburg National Cemetery and the restored USS Cairo gunboat. The landmark Old Court House has a museum displaying Civil War artifacts. The Lower Mississippi River Museum features an aquarium and interactive exhibits. Before & during the Civil War, Vicksburg was a significant trading city that benefited from heavy steamboat traffic on the Mississippi River. The city was a major hub for shipping cotton from the surrounding counties. Vicksburg is located on a high bluff overlooking a critical turn in the Mississippi River. It was a strategic stronghold and the decisive turning point of the American Civil War. Its capture by Union forces in 1863 effectively split the Confederacy in 2 and gave the Union control of the entire Mississippi River. President Lincoln nicknamed Vicksburg "key to the S. " during the Civil War when it was at the center of the battle. There were many majestic stately homes in this historic city.

I am posting this review as a matter of public record and public awareness…read more Over the past year, I have submitted multiple formal public records requests, written notices, and administrative complaints to the City of Vicksburg regarding documented incidents and requests for public information. Many of these requests were delayed, denied, or not responded to within the timeframes required under Mississippi public records law. As a result, I have filed or submitted documentation to the Mississippi Ethics Commission, the Mississippi State Auditor, and federal agencies so that there is a formal record outside of the city administrative structure. This review is not written out of anger, but to document my experience attempting to resolve issues through the proper administrative and legal channels. When residents follow the official process but cannot obtain responses or records, it creates a serious transparency and public trust issue. I hope the City of Vicksburg will improve communication, transparency, and public records compliance so that future issues can be resolved at the local level without requiring escalation to outside agencies.

The name for this museum is a bit deceiving. It is in fact not a museum about catfish, but about…read morethe city, region and the influence of the past on the present and future. It is about the people, the food and so much more. Admission is free, but they do accept donations. I would recommend this to anyone in the area for an in depth look into the culture.

I have been wanting to come for some time now, and since I was in the area doing other things, I…read morestopped in. Very reasonable admission price, there is a lot of memorabilia to look at. Seeing as this was where Coca-Cola was bottled for the first time, there is a lot of history here. I am so glad I did come, and I recommend this for anyone in the area.

A pretty cool museum at one of the hop-on hop-off tours during our American Queen cruise (so it was…read morefree for us to enter). This is the location where the first Coca Cola was bottled back in the 1800s. You literally see the transition of all the Coca Cola advertising and memorabilia as you walk through the displays. Lots of artifacts and interesting information. There is a little shop where you can purchase souvenirs, gifts, and even a Coke float! Definitely check it out and read through some (or all!) of the history. Pretty cool stuff. And I don't even like Coca Cola! Cheers!!!