Welcome to Vicksburg National Military Park’s Art of Commemoration audio tour. This tour will wind you through our 1,800-acre park highlighting significant pieces of art and architecture that mark this storied landscape. With more than 1,400 pieces of commemorative art, Vicksburg National Military Park was considered by at least one veteran to be “the art park of the world.”
Throughout your tour today, you will encounter many different styles of monument, all a hallmark to the era in which they were created. From the classicism of the American Renaissance which dominated American art and architecture from 1876 – 1917, to the visual language expressed within the abstract, each artwork is heavily laden with symbols representative of the themes that define this park’s story: honor, sacrifice, memory, and reconciliation.
If we may direct your attention to your park map, you will notice red triangles with a state’s name next to it. These red triangles represent our larger state monuments and their locations within our park. Our park has monuments for all states that were active in the Vicksburg Campaign – the only exception is the State of Ohio which opted for many smaller, unique monuments for each of their regiments.
As you travel through the park you will also notice several smaller state markers, each with a design unique to their own state. These were used to mark where specific regiments were stationed on a siege line.
This audio tour will highlight some of the significant pieces of art within the park. If you wish to learn more, please select “Explore this Location,” at the conclusion of each tour stop. Many of our larger monuments have areas where you can pull over, park your vehicle, and get a more detailed look. We encourage you to do this at each location so that you may fully experience each artwork in the manner that the artist intended.
Once you are ready, make your way towards the Memorial Arch at the entrance of the park. This will be the starting point for your tour today.
