• View from Battery DeGolyer

    Vicksburg

    National Military Park Mississippi

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  • Grand Illumination Event Information

    A Grand Illumination will be held on July 3 from 6-10 pm throughout VNMP. Tour road access is at the Clay St. entrance only and limited to motor vehicles. No pedestrians or bicyclists will be allowed during these hours. Click 'More' for further details. More »

Armor - Iron Plating on the USS Cairo

Gun Ports #3 and #4

Gun Ports #3 and #4

NPS Photo

The starboard (right) side of the gunboat shows gun ports number 3 and 4. The iron plating was mounted as part of the sloping casemate that enclosed the gun deck. The 2-1/2 inch thick charcoal plate iron was originally backed by a two foot thickness of white oak timbers. Without the wood to absorb the shock of shot and shell hitting the iron, the metal would have shattered like glass.

Did You Know?

Did You Know?

Vicksburg National Military Park is one of the most heavily monumented parks in the world with over 1330 monuments, markers, tablets, and plaques. The beauty and artistry of its monumentation prompted one Civil War veteran to call Vicksburg National Military Park, "the art park of the world."