Town of the Week

Vicksburg, Mississippi
September 9, 2000

Head over to Vicksburg, Mississippi; just listen in.

Problem listening to Real Audio? Get Help!

This week's town is called by some writers, "the Gibraltar of the Confederacy". A century ago, one of this country's most beautiful National Memorials was created at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The town is perched on steep wooded hills on a high bluff overlooking the Yazoo and Mississippi rivers.

Vicksburg began as a frontier settlement on the Vick family plantation back in 1812. With the Mississippi at its front door, and located halfway between Memphis and new Orleans, steamboats found Vicksburg to be a convenient fueling and supply point. The town became the most important Confederate stronghold against the Union in 1862. Vicksburg fell when general Ulysses S. Grant laid siege to the town for 47 days, the following year. The Military Park was established in 1899, and encompasses the battle lines of the two opposing armies during the siege.

The town's history is also reflected in its charming antebellum mansions and its cozy antique shops. Among its many museums are the 140 year old Courthouse, the Southern Cultural Heritage complex, and the Biedenharn Museum of Coca-Cola memorabilia where Coke was first bottled anywhere in the world in 1894. The only diorama of the siege of Vicksburg is found at the Gray and Blue Naval Museum, along with an exhibit of life on the Mississippi River. Since gambling was legalized here, that life now includes 4 casinos in our Town of the Week, the Red Carpet City of the South, Vicksburg, Mississippi.