Vicksburg National Military Park

Vicksburg National Military Park is situated in two different states of Louisiana and Mississippi encompassing a total area of about 1850 acres of land. The military park is more specifically located on the northeastern corner of Vicksburg, Mississippi, where there are three detached units south of the city along Washington St. near the Mississippi River bridges. 

There is one more unit that is located in Madison Parish, in the state of Louisiana. Access to the military park can be gained by using the US 80 (Clay St.), which is just off I-20. This military park was established on February 21, 1899, and management of the park was later changed from the War Department on August 10, 1933. The park was added to the (NHRP) National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. 

The Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Vicksburg that was waged between March 29 to July 4, 1863. The military park also celebrates the Vicksburg Campaign which led up to the battle. The unions victory at this site in Vicksburg and at Port Hudson, in Louisiana, led to the Unions control of the Mississippi River. The park has several historical buildings including reconstructed forts and trenches that evoke memories of the 47-day siege that led to surrender of the city. 

The military park is also home to several other attractions including 1,325 historic monuments and markers; 144 emplaced cannons, two antebellum homes; 20 miles of historic trenches and earthworks; a 12.5-mile walking trail; a 16-mile tour road; Grant's Canal site; the restored gunboat USS Cairo (sunk in the Yazoo River on December 1862); and the Illinois State Memorial which includes 47 steps to commemorate each day Vicksburg was besieged during the battle. 

Bringing your dog into the park to enjoy the outdoors is permitted as long as you respect park rules, park visitors, and all park resources. First, you should always ensure that you have immediate control of your dog at all times and that you do not let your dog wander into park buildings or into any pet-restricted areas of the park. Furthermore, your dog should always be on a leash that is no more than six feet long, or you must keep your dog in a secured enclosure. Holding your dog unattended to in your car is not allowed.