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.

Cool place. But not worth the drive as it is in the middle of nowhere. We were there long enough…read moreto take a couple pictures. Ruins were gated off when we visited.

This man owned 21,000 acres before the Civil War kicked off. Let that soak in. 21,000 acres. As I…read morestood there looking at the remnants of this short-lived plantation home, all I could think of was all the people (specifically slaves) that went into making this mansion and expansive plantation possible during a time in which combines, tractors, and modern day resources were years down the pipeline. I really wish the site offered more insight on the human side of the Windsor Ruins story. You'll find yourself winding down the Natchez Parkway and off the beaten trail to find the columns and crumbling framework of Windsor Ruins. Note that there is now a large fence surrounding the entire home for safety and preservation purposes. Unfortunately, each year the columns are crumbling at an astounding rate and with this site being out in the middle of nowhere, it seems that it could be easily forgotten if not preserved soon. Fun perspective: from the top pergola of the home they were able to see the Mississippi River. The railing you see hanging at the top is from the second story balconies. I can only imagine how tall the ceilings were in this home based on the height and grandiose vibes of the remaining columns. Upon arriving, you'll see a small sign and a few spots to park. If you choose to walk around in the brush- be warned of ticks. (Speaking from firsthand experience here)

Neat place! Has a rich history, both as an Indian mound and in more recent history - read it! They…read morerent it out for weddings, parties, etc. Glad the family decided to restore this gem.

Review 1500 I have…read morehad my eye on coming here for quite some time now. This is well worth the trip. You start in the Visitors Center and you can either walk the mounds, drive yourself around, or take the ranger guided tour in their super golf cart. I would suggest going on the ranger guided tour. Everything was just wonderful. Come! Poverty Point World Heritage Site is a story 3,400 years in the making. A trading hub, an engineering marvel, a monument to ingenuity--there are many ways to describe Poverty Point. In 2014, a new label was added: UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is a cool historical site. Great interpretive content. Friendly rangers. Good junior ranger…read moreprogram. Grounds are well kept. A park worth checking out.

This pair of mounds are found in Jackson, MS. One, Mound A, is located at a rest area and is…read moreaccessible to the public. There is also an education center there. The other, Mound B, is on private land and is not accessible. Both mounds are on the National Register of Historic Places. The site dates back to 750 and 1600. Mounds of this type were constructed to basically serve one of two purposes, a platform and a burial area. Mound A, is about 22 feet high and 175 feet wide. Mound B, is 10 feet high and 75 feet wide. After the discovery/excavation of the remains of a structure and associated features on top of the mound, as well as numerous artifacts, it was determined that Mound A was more of a platform mound, while mound B was a primarily a burial mound. Both mounds were much larger, but have suffered from erosion over the years. As I mentioned, Mound A is located at a rest area (opened in 2008), both of which are maintained by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. That area is also known as Pocahontas Mounds Roadside Park.The area has security, restrooms, a nice air-conditioned interpretive center that explains a little about the mounds and picnic tables and benches in a patio area behind the bench. There is a nice paved path that leads to a viewing area, but you cannot get close to the mound. The grounds are nice and full of shade trees. I do not think people ae allowed on the green space though and are limited to the patio area and paved paths. Being located at a rest area, parking here is not an issue and is welcomed. There are ample spots available to park and it has easy access. Before my visit here, I had no idea what mounds were. Being a bit of a history buff, I found this site very interesting and learned a lot. The site (Mound A), is very well maintained and nice to visit, even if it is just to take a load off. If you are driving past, it is defiantly worth a stop. I came across this gem on my way to the petrified forest from downtown Jackson.

I have recently started stopping here while traveling on Hwy 49. I only saw one mound, but it is…read morenice sized. It also made for a pretty good photo op! There's a walking trail that's perfect if you've been traveling for a while and need to stretch your legs. At most, I've only seen 3 - 4 people walking the trail, so it's great for folks who appreciate a bit of privacy. Next door is a decent rest area, so this is a perfect place to stop in my opinion.

Very cool bridge in Byram, Mississippi…read more The bridge was built in 1905 and is one of four swinging bridges in Mississippi. There is no vehicular traffic on the bridge, but there is a small parking lot and you can walk over the bridge. I love coming across these small town landmarks.

Appreciative of the for-thought to preserve the home of Medgar Evers. He was a civil rights…read moreactivist who was the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi. He was a United States Army veteran who served in World War II. He was involved in efforts to overturn racial segregation at the University of Mississippi, end the segregation of public facilities, and expand opportunities for African Americans, including the enforcement of voting rights prior to his assassination on June 12, 1963 in the driveway of his home. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery (with full military honors).

Medgar Evers (1925-1963) was a pioneering African American civil rights activist and the first…read moreNAACP field secretary in Mississippi, working tirelessly to dismantle segregation and secure voting rights. A World War II veteran, he investigated racist crimes, including the Emmett Till murder, and organized protests. His 1963 assassination in his driveway by a white supremacist brought national attention to the fight for equality. You can visit the house where Evers and his family lived and where Medgar was assassinated. See the reproduction of the bedrooms , the house, the kitchen and appliances as well as one of the bullet holes from a previous drive by shooting. There is even a map of where the assassin was. Very interesting stuff. The house is preserved by the NPS. It's free to enter and there were two rangers there to explain the history.

What a stark reminder of the horrors humans inflict on one another. Very peaceful spot. Nice spot…read moreto stop and think about the harm humans cause one another. This is the location of the second largest slave sale, only behind New Orleans.

If you intend to see this, keep your eyes open because it's right on the corner of a sidewalk-less…read moreroad in what looks like an innocuous patch of grass. The explanations of the monument are more visible than the monument itself.

I stopped in here since I was in the area, and I am so glad I did. Free admission, parking is free…read more This was quite amazing. The signs along the way were very informative and helpful. Though I would love to know if it was haunted. Probably not, old buildings are never haunted. I loved learning the history of the building of the government. I would recommend to anyone in the area.

This is a nice piece of history that is almost 200 years old (Built in 1839). It is in marvelous…read moreshape. There is free street parking available within a reasonable walking distance. It is a National Historic Landmark and a fine examples of Greek Revival architecture. It served as the Mississippi state capitol from 1839 to 1903 and has a limestone exterior and a copper dome. Currently, You cannot go into the the building to do on-going renovations on the roof. It is a nice structure that has been renovated. You would not be able to really guess its age. Looking in the window of the front doors, you will see a double spiral wooden staircase. There are a bunch of placards on the front of the building designating it as a national landmark, and detailing its construction and subsequent restoration. The grounds of the building are very well maintained and the lawn is amazing. it sits behind a wrought iron fence that is a replica of the original one that was originally at the building. This is a nice visit, if only to see its beauty and architecture. Hopefully they will open the building back up soon for free tours again. I would have like to see the inside. I have heard that it is just as beautiful as the outside.