Art of Commemoration Self-guided Tour Introduction

Begin your tour of the park at the Visitor Center

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Vicksburg National Military Park

Amenities

32 listed

Accessible Rooms, Accessible Sites, Assistive Listening Systems, Audio Description, Baby Changing Station, Benches/Seating, Bicycle - Rack, Entrance Passes for Sale, First Aid Kit Available, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Information - Maps Available, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Junior Ranger Activity, Junior Ranger Booklet Available, Low-Vision Access, Open Captioning, Parking - Auto, Parking - Boat Trailer, Parking - Bus/RV, Pet Waste Disposal, Recycling, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Restroom - Family, Theater/Auditorium, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Bottle-Filling Station, Water - Drinking/Potable, Wheelchair Accessible, Wheelchairs Available

The Vicksburg National Military Park’s Art of Commemoration audio tour will wind you through the 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.” 

• Art of Commemoration Self-Guided Tour Introduction

  
  

  A 2-minute and 12-second audio track introducing the Art in the Park self-guided tour.

  Date created:

  12/20/2022

  Audio Transcript

  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.