Contact: Raymond Hamel, 601-636-2199 On December 12, 2012, Vicksburg National Military Park will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the sinking of the Civil War ironclad, USS Cairo. The only surviving Civil War city class ironclad carries the dubious distinction of being the first naval vessel sunk by an underwater mine on December 12, 1862. Raised from the Yazoo River in 1964, the USS Cairo has been on display at Vicksburg National Military Park since 1985. A brief ceremony will be held from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at the USS Cairo Exhibit and Museum. The special program will include remarks from park Superintendent Michael Madell and Commander Brent Phillips of the U.S. Navy Recruiting Command in Memphis, Tennessee. The park is also pleased to announce that Mr. Stuart Stein, who was involved in the raising of the USS Cairo, will be attending the program to donate artifacts from the 1964 recovery effort. Admission is free for those attending the ceremony. Visitors are encouraged to enter the park through the Fort Hill entrance and arrive at the USS Cairo Museum before 11:00 am. For more information please call (601) 636-2199. |
Last updated: April 14, 2015