Vicksburg Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Tour

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Tour Details

Tour Type: Driving
Duration: 1 - 2 Hours
Distance:15 Miles
Audio Stories: 44
Purchase Qty: One Per Car
Tour At Your Own Pace
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Welcome to the Vicksburg Battlefield Tour

Bring history to life with this self-guided Vicksburg Battlefield driving tour, where Union and Confederate forces fought for control of the Mississippi River. Explore the battlefield and its powerful memorials as you hear about General Grant’s march on Vicksburg, the Confederate resistance, and the bloody Siege of Vicksburg itself. Revisit tales of bravery, strategy, and grit with dramatic blow-by-blow accounts of the struggle and its nation-altering aftermath.

About the Tour

Your expedition through Vicksburg National Military Park commences outside the Visitor Center near the northern entrance. As you delve deeper into the park, the weight of the American Civil War surrounds you. You’ll pass monuments like the Minnesota and Iowa Monuments, each telling tales of the soldiers hailing from these states. Along the way, you’ll hear about the leadup to this titanic struggle, as General Ulysses S. Grant marched inevitably toward Vicksburg.

You’ll hear accounts of the Battles of Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post, then stop at the historic Shirley House, the only wartime structure remaining in the park. Next, relive the fiery bombardment of the Grand Gulf and learn about the crucial role of Black soldiers in the Civil War. Then continue on to the awe-inspiring Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.

From there, you’ll head to the Vicksburg National Cemetery, which serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war. Rows upon rows of tombstones represent Union soldiers who gave their all. The cemetery’s tranquility contrasts sharply with the ongoing narrative of Grant’s campaign, as you revisit the battles of Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, and the Big Black River Bridge.

As the route steers you towards Confederate Ave, you’ll encounter Stockade Redan and absorb the story of the daring first and second assaults on the Vicksburg defenses. With each turn, there’s another monument or marker, like the Missouri State Memorial and the Louisiana Memorial, each adding a unique look at the participants in this sprawling siege.

The final segments of your journey dive into the climax of the siege, the surrender, and the eventual aftermath and significance of this battle. Your expedition concludes just down the street from the Visitor Center where it began.

Note: North Union Avenue and National Cemetery are closed to vehicular traffic. For more info on road closures, please refer to the official NPS website.

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Vicksburg Mississippi Map

Where To Start?

For Best Experience, We recommend starting from : Vicksburg National Military Park Visitor Center

How Does It Work?

Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions.
Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. If there are multiple versions or entrances for your tour, be sure to download all audio guides.
To begin touring, go to the starting point and launch the app.
The audio starts automatically once you reach the starting point. Stick to the tour route and speed limit for the best experience.
Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.

Audio Story Highlights

Vicksburg Battlefield
Explore the historic Vicksburg National Military Park and learn why it was pivotal in the Civil War.
Memorial Arch
Discover the symbol of reconciliation at the Memorial Arch, commemorating a veterans' reunion held in 1917.
Minnesota Memorial
Delve into the importance of Vicksburg's strategic location during the Civil War.
Lowa Monument
Pay tribute to the troops from Iowa who fought in the Battle of Vicksburg.
Michigan Memorial
Explore the Michigan Memorial and its significance, particularly Captain Samuel DeGolyer's role.
Battery DeGolyer
Learn about the intense cannon fire during the siege of Vicksburg and Captain DeGolyer's sacrifice.
Battles of Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post
Explore the early stages of the Vicksburg Campaign, including the battles at Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post.
Illinois Memorial
Visit the Illinois Memorial, a temple-like structure honoring the soldiers who fought at Vicksburg.
Shirley House
Discover the history of the Shirley House, a wartime structure that survived the conflict.
Logan's Approach
Learn about the failed attempt to breach Confederate defenses using a mine at Logan's Approach.
Grant’s Big Dig
Understand the challenges faced during Grant's failed attempt to build a canal to bypass Vicksburg.
West Virginia Monument
Explore the West Virginia Monument and the diverse soldiers who fought under its flag.
Bombardment of Grand Gulf
Follow the Union Navy's efforts to clear the way for Grant's Mississippi River crossing.
African American Monument
Honor the African American soldiers who fought for the Union and their remarkable contributions.
Grant Memorial
Discover the legacy of Ulysses S. Grant and his trusty war horse, Kangaroo.
Bruinsburg Crossing
Trace Grant's audacious river crossing and the beginning of his campaign to capture Vicksburg.
John C. Pemberton
Learn about John C. Pemberton, the Confederate commander of Vicksburg.
Volunteer Infantry Regiment Monument
Pay homage to the 106th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment from Lincoln, Illinois.
Battle of Port Gibson
Explore the Battle of Port Gibson and how it set the stage for Grant's advance.
U.S. Navy Monument
Acknowledge the crucial role played by the Navy in Grant's Vicksburg Campaign.
Vicksburg National Cemetery
Resting place for 17,000 Union soldiers, some relocated from makeshift graves during the war, and two Confederate soldiers buried here b
Grant's Army Pushes Inland
Grant's strategic maneuver to cut off Confederate supply lines before advancing toward Vicksburg.
Fort Hill
Confederate artillery position overlooking the river, where they sank the USS Cincinnati during the siege.
The Flood of 1876
The change in the river's course due to a massive flood in 1876, altering the battlefield's landscape.
Battles of Raymond and Jackson
Union forces overwhelming Confederate troops in the Battle of Raymond, leading to the capture of Jackson.
Battle of Champion Hill
A bloody battle where Grant's forces surrounded and defeated the Confederates, costing both sides many casualties.
Battle of Big Black River Bridge
Union forces chasing retreating Confederates, resulting in a devastating loss for the rebels.
Stockade Redan and the First Assault
The failed Union assault on Vicksburg's defenses and the subsequent decision to lay siege.
The Missouri Memorial
A memorial representing the divided loyalties in Missouri during the Civil War.
Vicksburg Defenses
Grant's second assault on Vicksburg, ending in failure and the decision to lay siege.
Louisiana Memorial
The Louisiana Memorial, marking the site of the largest Confederate fort in Vicksburg.
Mississippi Monument
An obelisk honoring Mississippi troops and symbolizing peace and reconciliation.
Siege of Vicksburg
Grant's siege of Vicksburg, including tunneling and constant bombardment of the city.
Battle of Milliken's Bend
A battle where newly recruited Black soldiers successfully defended a Union supply camp.
Railroad Redoubt
The failed Union attack on the Railroad Redoubt before the siege of Vicksburg.
Alabama Monument
A monument commemorating troops from Alabama, with a symbolic representation of the state.
Citizens During the Siege
The hardships faced by Vicksburg's citizens during the extended siege.
Fort Garrott
The story of Fort Garrott and Colonel Isham W. Garrott, who died defending it.
Surrender
The surrender of Vicksburg to Union forces after 47 days of siege.
Kentucky Monument
A monument honoring both Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis, both born in Kentucky.
Aftermath
The impact of the Union victory at Vicksburg on the course of the Civil War and the city's residents.

Preview The Tour

Tour FAQs

Visitors often spend 2 to 3 hours exploring the park, but those with a deeper interest in Civil War history may spend a full day.

Vicksburg is famous for its pivotal role in the American Civil War as the site of the Siege of Vicksburg, a 47-day siege that ultimately led to the surrender of Confederate forces and the Union’s control of the Mississippi River.

Yes, Vicksburg National Military Park is worth visiting for its historical significance, well-preserved battlefields, monuments, and educational exhibits about the American Civil War.

Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates the Battle of Vicksburg and the Siege of Vicksburg, two critical events during the American Civil War that had a significant impact on the course of the war.

It is estimated that thousands of soldiers, both Union and Confederate, died during the Battle of Vicksburg and the subsequent siege. Exact casualty numbers vary by source.

The Battle of Vicksburg was notable for its strategic importance. The Union victory at Vicksburg gave them control of the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two.

Vicksburg is often referred to as the “Gibraltar of the Confederacy” due to its formidable defenses and strategic location on the Mississippi River.

Vicksburg and Gettysburg were both critical battles in the Civil War, but Vicksburg’s importance lay in its strategic control of the Mississippi River.