Natchez,MS

[Championhilz]

Turns out too,that shortly before you reach Grand Gulf Military Park there is a single reactor nuclear plant on the left hand side of Grand Gulf Road. Stopping to snap a pic or 2 didn't seem to be a real good idea,so I kept on going.

Back in the 1990's my reenacting unit camped out quite often at the Shaifer House. At that time you could drive right up to the cooling towers of the Nuclear Power Plant. One day we drove up there and had our picture made in uniform, with rifles, in front of one of the cooling towers.

 

[bdtex]

The tour is all uphill from the Museum until you reach the Observation Tower so I climbed in my truck and drove a while. A number of the structures at GGMP were moved there from other locations. There are historical markers at each one explaining their history. At this first one,the GGMP Museum employee asked me to please remember to close the door after I left,otherwise he would have to clear out critters and birds. Coulda figured that out myself. I leave everything like that the way that I find it,some times better,when visiting anyway.

 

[bdtex]

The interior:

 

[bdtex]

On the GGMP tour map,this is called the "Dog Trot House".

 

[bdtex]

1940's Water Wheel:

 

[bdtex]

The next stop was Fort Wade. Now we're really having some fun. At some point in the day @alan polk ,in one of the many texts we exchanged that day,suggested that I take some pics from Fort Wade of the floodwaters below because that's about where the river was during the war. I think I had already been to Fort Wade by the time I got that text,but I had taken some pics about halfway up the hill at Fort Wade looking down at 2 artillery emplacements below. I'm guessing the earthworks of the emplacements were much higher originally.

 

[bdtex]

Looking up the hill at Fort Wade:

 

[bdtex]

Lotta stuff to see at Fort Wade...more than I expected. It was exhilarating.

 

[bdtex]

The mortar "tube" looked freshly painted. It's big too. Very nice of the owners to loan it to GGMP.

 

[bdtex]

Historical marker at Fort Wade:

 

[bdtex]

This was unexpected and way cool. Fort Wade's ammunition magazine. I'm guessing that in wartime it had a heavy timber roof over laid with earth/sandbags.

 

[bdtex]

"Confederate Rifle Pits" marker next to the ammunition magazine. I hope the boys weren't in those pits sandwiched between the fort guns and Union warships shelling the fort from the river. Not sure exactly where the fort guns were except the 2 river batteries in post #146 above.

 

[bdtex]

Just above Fort Wade is the "Old Spanish House" on the GGMP tour map.

 

[bdtex]

Went up on the porch of the house. Couldn't go in. Doors were locked. Turned around and there was a nice view for a couple more pics. The weather was just great. Pretty nice little breeze blowing at this point too.

 

[bdtex]

Heading back to my truck,I couldn't help but stop,look around and take a couple more pictures. Memorable tour stop.

 

[alan polk]

On one of your trips back, I'm gonna finally convince you to leave Grand Gulf and drive along the Old Port Gibson Road to Raymond, the original road well marked and neat

 

[bdtex]

On one of your trips back, I'm gonna finally convince you to leave Grand Gulf and drive along the Old Port Gibson Road to Raymond, the original road well marked and neat

I'm down and coming back around. Prolly be next year. Got trips to Alabama and Baton Rouge planned for next month,a trip to southern Georgia planned in late June and Chattanooga/Ringgold/Chickamauga in late October.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I know that you'll soon post the Grand Gulf Cemetery photos along with the images from atop the observation tower.

 

[bdtex]

I know that you'll soon post the Grand Gulf Cemetery photos along with the images from atop the observation tower.

You peeked. Tomorrow. Neat thing is that I didn't see the site map or dig too deep on the web before I went. Everything was pretty much a surprise.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Grand Gulf is one of the best kept secrets along the Mississippi River !