Touring Brice's Crossroads/Tupelo

[lupaglupa]

I'm heading to Mississippi on a research trip and hope to tour Brice's Crossroads and what's left of Tupelo battlefield. Is there any preferred order to do these stops in?

 

[bdtex]

I'm heading to Mississippi on a research trip and hope to tour Brice's Crossroads and what's left of Tupelo battlefield. Is there any preferred order to do these stops in?

My recollection is that they have a tour map/brochure at the Brice's Crossroads Visitor Center. I haven't been to Tupelo. I hear that there's only a one acre battlefield park there. If you've never been there, you should visit Okolona while you're on that trip.

 

[gjpratt]

As usual, @bdtex is spot on

 

[lupaglupa]

I've been to the official site at Tupelo, which has just a couple of information signs and a monument. But there's something else north of Tupelo that, I think, has more information.

I'm like the person from New York City who has never visited the Empire State Building. I go to Tupelo almost every year to visit but I don't see the tourist sights

 

[bdtex]

I've been to the official site at Tupelo, which has just a couple of information signs and a monument. But there's something else north of Tupelo that, I think, has more information.

I'm like the person from New York City who has never visited the Empire State Building. I go to Tupelo almost every year to visit but I don't see the tourist sights

I believe have the back issue of Blue & Gray Magazine on Tupelo. I bet there is some off-the-beaten-path tour information in it. Might drag that out later today. The B & G issue on Brice's Crossroads is very helpful.

 

[lupaglupa]

I have the Tupelo Blue & Gray - in fact I've been reading it out loud to my husband in preparation for our trip! But I don't have Brice's Crossroads. If you could share any tips from that @bdtex I would surely appreciate it.

 

[bdtex]

I have the Tupelo Blue & Gray - in fact I've been reading it out loud to my husband in preparation for our trip! But I don't have Brice's Crossroads. If you could share any tips from that @bdtex I would surely appreciate it.

Heading to church. I will look later. I don't think the Brice's Crossroads Visitor Center is open 7 days a week. You might check that. It was October 2020 when a number of us went down there during the CWT Shiloh Muster. 2020 was a tough year for them. They were happy to see us that day. We all bought stuff in the gift shop and left some cash in our wake.

 

[redbob]

Be sure that you check to see what days the visitor's center at Brice's Crossroads is closed and as there is a church across from the main area, traffic/parking on Sunday morning can be a problem.

 

[lupaglupa]

Just looked up the opening hours for the interpretive center at Brice's Crossroads. It's not a great match for our trip as we are in Tupelo most the two days they are closed. But I'm hoping we can manage it the morning we leave. Thanks for the advice to look!

 

[redbob]

Even if the visitor's center is closed, you can still see the battlefield and get a pretty good feel for the fight.

 

[stu613]

Be VERY careful if you get off the trails at Brice's Crossroads!! I thought I had broken my ankle when I stepped in a gopher's hole-and there are lots of them! Also here are three pics of the Tupelo battlefield park, pretty much all there is too it, but you are still "where it happened"! Pics taken June 2022. I had to park across the street at the car wash west of the park (behind the white pickup and SUV in the last picture)

 

[stu613]

Even if the visitor's center is closed, you can still see the battlefield and get a pretty good feel for the fight.

That happened to me. Got there on a sunday afternoon to discover the visitor center closed, but still managed to visit the Brices Crossroads battleground with an old copy of B&G Magazine. You dont need the magazine, just keep a very sharp eye out for signage/monuments along the road- a little challenging but it can be done as I thought it was very well marked.

 

[lupaglupa]

This is really helpful - thank you all. I can't count how many times I've just driven by that monument. It's a shame so little is left of the battlefield.

 

[DixieRifles]

I have the Tupelo Blue & Gray - in fact I've been reading it out loud to my husband in preparation for our trip! But I don't have Brice's Crossroads. If you could share any tips from that @bdtex I would surely appreciate it.

As you drive West from the Interpretive Center, there are several markers along the road. I counted 5 photos that I took but there may be more markers that are further away from the road(shown below).
Once you get to the Tishomingo Bridge, there are colored plaques(rather dingy) and some more markers and plaques along a walking trail.

If you want, I can IM you some of my photos so you can get caught up on reading the markers, as well as the brochure.

 

[lupaglupa]

@DixieRifles that would be great!

 

[stu613]

I agree with @DixieRifles. He may have better pics than me, but examples are these as you drive west from the visitor center, these, and others, are "hidden" in small pull-offs on the right hand side of the road. You really have to look for them (I will not divulge the number of u-turns I made to get back to them after passing them and took these pics out of the passenger window.). I forget the total number before actually getting to a significant part of the battle field but seems like 5-6 marking both US and CS lines. p.s. be careful of traffic as the roads are fairly narrow and flanked by woods.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Corinth NP had brochures about Brice's Crossroads that I picked up. They might be willing to mail them if there is still time before your visit.

 

[lupaglupa]

Corinth NP had brochures about Brice's Crossroads that I picked up. They might be willing to mail them if there is still time before your visit.

I've been and come back. I have pictures to share - just haven't had time to put them up yet.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

I've been and come back. I have pictures to share - just haven't had time to put them up yet.

Id like to go there and also Vicksburg. Maybe I can combine them next year. I had an opportunity to go to Ireland this spring so I had to cancel Vicksburg

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Id like to go there and also Vicksburg. Maybe I can combine them next year. I had an opportunity to go to Ireland this spring so I had to cancel Vicksburg

By all means try to visit the Vicksburg National Military Park.
AKA Vicksburg's Art Park:

VICKSBURG'S ART PARK: Sculptures, monuments are VNMP's understated tre...

Every year, thousands of tourists visit the Vicksburg National Military Park to absorb its history. For locals, it's a popular place to walk, run and bike.

www.vicksburgpost.com

There is so much more to see regarding monuments, statues, markers, ect. than many of the other regional National Military Parks.