Vicksburg's Best Kept Secret

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I don't think this bullet display has changed in the past 40 years. But I have always loved it.
There were so many more varieties than these shown that were used during the siege but one day maybe it will be updated to display more of those types.
 
There was also a drug store that looked like an ordnance museum-Would you like a Parrott shell with that bottle of aspirin? and If I remember correctly, it was also where Coca Cola was invented. There was also a Columbiad cannon mounted nearby.
I believe it was the Corner Drug Store operated by Mr. Gerache. I believe that was the spelling
Regards
David
 
A similar story to this one is The Lady Slocumb which is a 8" Columbiad located in front of the Confederate Memorial Hall in New Orleans. The gun was manned by the 5th Company of the Washington Artillery during the siege of Mobile and was emplaced in the siege lines. It was disabled during the siege and a number of it's crew was killed and wounded, 26 years after the war; it was found buried in it's former location, purchased by former members of the Washington Artillery and transported to New Orleans where it remains today.
 
Now that is great news !

The last time I saw that diorama was when it was displayed at the "navy" museum.
Not a true museum . . . but it was worth a look.
( A private venture very close to the National Park entrance )

It was a massive structure designed as a giant ironclad.
Anyone traveling Interstate 20 from Dallas,Texas to Atlanta,Georgia could see it from the highway.

Actually kind of a typical tourist trap.

:bounce:


It's "claim to fame" was the collection of 100's of models of Civil War era vessels

And yes . . . some very impressive scratch built ship models were on display!

I think they also showed a video of the original NPS 1950's era Vicksburg Visitor Center film.
Unfortunately, that particular museum went out of business. Those ship models are now located at the Railroad Depot Museum
 
Unfortunately, that particular museum went out of business. Those ship models are now located at the Railroad Depot Museum
Yeah, I remember when that museum closed.

However, I'm glad those models were preserved and are still on display !

Most folks don't understand the time and effort that is required to build a wooden ship model.
Much less creating that level of authentic detail from "scratch". The men who built those models are truly artists.
 
Yeah, I remember when that museum closed.

However, I'm glad those models were preserved and are still on display !

Most folks don't understand the time and effort that is required to build a wooden ship model.
Much less creating that level of authentic detail from "scratch". The men who built those models are truly artists.
Very true
 
Please forgive my rambling here, but I remember 30+ years ago, you could walk down Washington Street in downtown Vicksburg and literally almost every store-front had shells, fragments, and other rusty artifacts displayed on their window displays. It was the coolest thing. It was like the citizenry of Vicksburg was saying to the world - "We Will Never Forget".

Every time there was exposed dirt from a construction or building foundation you could find some kind of artifact exposed.
I remember those days as well.

And artifacts and construction remain an issue today.

Last Summer, a friend of mine in Vicksburg was expanding his backyard patio.
What would normally be a two or three day project turned into a two month ordeal.

Yep, artifacts (specifically artillery shells) were uncovered within the first hour after the backhoe started grading the backyard.
The delay was not over the historic aspect of these shells, but if the shells were still "live".
 
I remember those days as well.

And artifacts and construction remain an issue today.

Last Summer, a friend of mine in Vicksburg was expanding his backyard patio.
What would normally be a two or three day project turned into a two month ordeal.

Yep, artifacts (specifically artillery shells) were uncovered within the first hour after the backhoe started grading the backyard.
The delay was not over the historic aspect of these shells, but if the shells were still "live".
Oh my! Please tell me the police were called and the shells destroyed.
 
I know a couple of guys in Alabama who would have removed the shells and other artifacts! In fact if Sam Adams can be there I know one would be there for sure with his buddy standing by
Regards
David
 
I’m sure it was. I used to hunt the hill right across the street from the Pemberton Mall.
I remember a lot of woods behind it and toward the river. Out front there were a bunch of small fast food joints, Long John Silver's is the one I recall. And somewhere close a circle of memorial Stones, one with the name McNulta I believe on it. And out across the highway was the fronting of the confederate line. That was pretty well wooded also.
Lubliner.
 
A number of years (more than I like to remember), wife #1 and I were having a romantic weekend in Vicksburg and while taking a tour of one of the historic houses; the gardener came in and told the lady of the house that they had found "another one" while planting bushes in the garden. The lady made a phone call and a short time later a fire engine drove up, two firefighters walked around back and came back with a spherical shell. I struck up a conversation with them and asked them how often that they came out to collect ordnance and what they did with it. I was told that they were called out fairly often, they stored them until they had a load and then they took them out and dumped them off of the bridge into the Mississippi River. Well, that's one way to handle the problem I guess.
 
I know a couple of guys in Alabama who would have removed the shells and other artifacts! In fact if Sam Adams can be there I know one would be there for sure with his buddy standing by
Regards
David

He prefers to be referred to as his accomplice or his comic relief.
 
I really don't know what hoopla is about "Live" shells. I will gladly come and get them. 99.9% are safe to handle. The .1 you don't drop. I have dug, handled and disarmed many and still have all my fingers. In the future please let me know and I will help them all I can.
 
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