Monday morning it was up and off to see the Vicksburg National Military Park. First we went to the Visitors Center for information and to watch a movie about the Battle of Vicksburg. I don't know much about the Civil War, so it was very interesting. The city could not be taken by force, so Grant's army laid seige to the city and the confederates eventually surrendered because of low food and supplies. It is considered to be one of the main turning points of the war. You enter at the Main Gate for the driving tour. It is a 16-mile trip that winds around the battlefield and we had a CD that narrated the whole thing. It took about an hour and a half. We saw many, many monuments...the biggest and best were dedicated to the states that were represented in the battle. 20,000 soldiers died during this fight.
Reenacting the loading and firing of a cannon. Here are a few of the monuments and statues:
Statue of Major-General Ulysses S. Grant...Union Army
Lt. General John C. Pemberton...Confederate Army
View of the Mississippi from near the Cemetery
One of the major objectives of the battle was control of the Mississippi River. The Union sent 7 ironclad gun ships down the River. One was sunk, the Cairo (pronounced Karo). It was salvaged from the Yazoo River (a tributary) about 100 years later and the tour included a trip to the museum to see what's left of the ironclad. Very interesting.
Dad aboard the Cairo.
Mom on the Cairo.
We drove north to Tunica in the afternoon to the Mississippi River Museum...interesting architecture. This was a very nice museum with great displays...kinda like at the Smithsonian and we spent a couple of hours here learning about the history and attributes of the river.
There was also an aquarium...here are 2 turtles and 2 crocs.
Here is a miniature replica of a snag boat, that gets rid of old tree roots, logs etc., so boats don't get caught/stuck.
Dad on the walkway to the big paddlewheel cruise boat...unfortunately it didn't run on Mondays.
View of the 'ole Mississip from the upper deck of the museum.
We ended up in Memphis, Tennessee that night. We drove by Graceland, the home of Elvis. It was closed and we decided not to take a tour the next day.
Elvis would have been 75 years old this year.
But we did go down to Beale street, the birthplace of the Blues, kinda like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but not as long and not as raunchy.
Looking down Beale Street starting at the B.B. King Club around sunset.
We decided to eat and listen to music at this little club. Food was good and the music was excellent...Victor Wainright (singer/gormo piano player (looked like Baron but reminded us of Briton) and 2 guitarists who also sang (one also played drums simultaneously...this one looked like Briton with long hair but reminded us of Baron!!) Lots of fun here.
Sign on the club where we ate and really enjoyed the blues music...The Rum Boogie Cafe.
Statue of Major-General Ulysses S. Grant...Union Army
Lt. General John C. Pemberton...Confederate Army
View of the Mississippi from near the Cemetery
One of the major objectives of the battle was control of the Mississippi River. The Union sent 7 ironclad gun ships down the River. One was sunk, the Cairo (pronounced Karo). It was salvaged from the Yazoo River (a tributary) about 100 years later and the tour included a trip to the museum to see what's left of the ironclad. Very interesting.
Dad aboard the Cairo.
Mom on the Cairo.
We drove north to Tunica in the afternoon to the Mississippi River Museum...interesting architecture. This was a very nice museum with great displays...kinda like at the Smithsonian and we spent a couple of hours here learning about the history and attributes of the river. 
There was also an aquarium...here are 2 turtles and 2 crocs.
Here is a miniature replica of a snag boat, that gets rid of old tree roots, logs etc., so boats don't get caught/stuck.
Dad on the walkway to the big paddlewheel cruise boat...unfortunately it didn't run on Mondays.
View of the 'ole Mississip from the upper deck of the museum.
Elvis would have been 75 years old this year.
But we did go down to Beale street, the birthplace of the Blues, kinda like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but not as long and not as raunchy.
Looking down Beale Street starting at the B.B. King Club around sunset.
We decided to eat and listen to music at this little club. Food was good and the music was excellent...Victor Wainright (singer/gormo piano player (looked like Baron but reminded us of Briton) and 2 guitarists who also sang (one also played drums simultaneously...this one looked like Briton with long hair but reminded us of Baron!!) Lots of fun here.
Sign on the club where we ate and really enjoyed the blues music...The Rum Boogie Cafe.I'll try to upload a video clip in my next blog.
1 comment:
So there's that boat they salvaged from the Sahara Desert, eh? ;) And boy! What lazy crocs! They must know Butters and Moochie.
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