Vicksburg National Military Park preserves and interprets the Vicksburg Campaign and siege that ended in the surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi to General Ulysses Grant's Union army in July, 1863 - the turning point of the American Civil War.
Vicksburg National Military Park, established in 1899, is a unit of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The 1800 acre main portion of the park preserves the eastern Confederate defenses and Union siege lines of the Vicksburg Campaign of May - July, 1863. The park also includes several sites along the Mississippi River and Pemberton's Headquarters in downtown Vicksburg, a three acre remnant of Grant's Canal in Delta, Louisiana; and the preserved Union ironclad gunboat U.S.S. Cairo, as well as artifacts retrieved from her raising. Both the park's Visitor Center and the U.S.S. Cairo and Museum are in the main park, along with a 16 mile tour road through Union and Confederate lines.
National Park Service Purpose and Mission
The National Park Service Organic Act of 1916 states that the purpose of the National Park Service (NPS) is to “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
“The National Park Service Mission is to preserve unimpaired natural
and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the
enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations.
The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of
natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation
throughout this country and the world.” -NPS Mission Statement
Vicksburg National Military Park Mission
“Through the preservation and interpretation of its cultural, natural, and historical resources, VNMP employees and its partners provide opportunities for people to connect to this piece of history, enhancing their learning and personal experiences.” – VNMP Long Range Interpretive Plan
