New interpretative center.

[Samwisep86]

The park already includes portions of Louisiana, Port Gibson, and Champion Hill with portions of Chickasaw Bayou and Raymond in the process of being added. The update to the park's mission included any relevant sites in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

I think Grindstone Ford is owned by the national park system as part of the Natchez Trace, not sure if there's any interpretation there.

IIRC, there's no interpretation at Grindstone Ford about the Civil War, but there is some about its importance to the Natchez Trace.

 

[danny]

The scope of interpretation by the park was expanded by Congress in 2006. There weren't USCT at the siege, but there were USCT in battles during the campaign and afterward garrisoning the city and nearby points.

https://www.congress.gov/106/statute/STATUTE-114/STATUTE-114-Pg2202.pdf

The capture of Vicksburg opened the river and separated the Confederacy from many key resources needed to prosecute the war: Texas beef and nitrates, Louisiana salt and sugar. But the primary advantage gained was access to the manpower of the region for military recruiting and cotton production in the form of several hundred thousand freed slaves.

Given that Vicksburg was the first major military operation with the express goal of freeing the slaves and recruiting them into the ranks of the federal army, it seems a given that slavery and the USCT would be a major component of the interpretation.

That's a big stretch

 

[tony_gunter]

That's a big stretch

How so?

 

[Samwisep86]

Here's the Vicksburg Daily News article about the public meeting last night: https://vicksburgnews.com/a-broader-story-here-vnmp-interpretive-center-planned-for-2028-completion

 

[Tompre]

Given other battlefield parks do have a staff Historian it would be strange for Vicksburg not to have one.

Who do you think should be doing the interpretation if not NPS or MDAH? Besides Timothy Smith in a consulting role? (He's extremely knowledgeable about the Vicksburg Campaign, but probably not about exhibit design.)

Have you published your dissertation yet? Can I pay you for a copy?

Here's the Vicksburg Daily News article about the public meeting last night: https://vicksburgnews.com/a-broader-story-here-vnmp-interpretive-center-planned-for-2028-

 

[9th US Regulars]

War may be political action......but politics or culture wars 150 years later isn't relevant to the historical action...........pretending it is certainly does lead to bad takes.

Who said anything about modern politics? I think it's perfectly fair and correct to present the political picture of 1859/60/61. This provides accurate context for the events interpreted in these centers. If the topic is "unfair" when presenting the very words of the people who perpetrated the event, I think it speaks volumes about the consequences of leaving that part out. I'm not the one bringing up people getting "offended" by displays.

 

[archieclement]

Who said anything about modern politics? I think it's perfectly fair and correct to present the political picture of 1859/60/61. This provides accurate context for the events interpreted in these centers. If the topic is "unfair" when presenting the very words of the people who perpetrated the event, I think it speaks volumes about the consequences of leaving that part out. I'm not the one bringing up people getting "offended" by displays.

Certainly emphasis put on subjects 150 years later is modern and not actually historical. As well there certainly is varying historical perspectives.

 

[tony_gunter]

Certainly emphasis put on subjects 150 years later is modern and not actually historical. As well there certainly is varying historical perspectives.

I thought the past was never dead in Mississippi, "it's not even the past."

Maybe 150 years is a stretch, but it's hard to argue against including events up to 1976 when Vicksburg resumed regular public celebrations of the 4th of July.

 

[Tompre]

Conceptual drawing of the new interpretative center.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Conceptual drawing of the new interpretative center.

View attachment 529412

That's a "tad bit" more impressive than the current center.

Speaking of which ... any plans about what the NPS is going to do with the old center when the new one is finished ?

 

[Tompre]

That's a "tad bit" more impressive than the current center.

Speaking of which ... any plans about what the NPS is going to do with the old center when the new one is finished ?

It's definitely impressive. I wonder if the zig zag exterior walls relate to the earthworks in the park.
I haven't heard about the future of the old building.

 

[Samwisep86]

That's a "tad bit" more impressive than the current center.

Speaking of which ... any plans about what the NPS is going to do with the old center when the new one is finished ?

It's planned to be torn down.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

It's planned to be torn down.

Thanks.

 

[Cato3rd]

I've been pretty outspoken here about my disappointment with the Corinth center.

...literally walls of text with the occasional little reproduction/fake artifact glued to the wall. And a broken fountain in the back.

View attachment 529069

I guess this is the new trend for museums. Maybe I'm crazy but if I'm going to a museum, I want to see artifacts and lots of them. I've been to a lot of museums and what I always remember is the items. Save the long winded words for the bookstore.

 

[UCVRelics]

My hope is that they will display lots of artifacts at the new Visitor Center Museum. Vicksburg was known for their artillery and I would love to see a good interpretive display of the artillery as well as the bullets used by the soldiers on both sides. The current museum, we can all agree, is totally inadequate to properly interpret the campaign for Vicksburg. My understanding is that this new museum will interpret the entire campaign plus the civilian experience. This is exciting. I can appreciate the fact that they are inviting the public to hear

Have you been down to Charles new museum. He has acquired a LOT of Vicksburg and surrounding battlefield arty and relics. I was in heaven.

Home - Vicksburg Civil War Museum

After seeing it all on my next trip I donated one that he didn't have. If you go tell him I sent you and he will charge you DOUBLE

 

[Biscoitos]

So you question my knowledge of the VNMP? I live in Vicksburg and am the former manager of the Port Gibson Battlefield and Grand Gulf. Terry. Winschel was the last historian the park had, and he retired years ago. He offered to volunteer his help but was turned down. As for me, I had a GG grandfather in the 36th Ms, one in the 3rd La, and a G grandfather in the 37th Ms. . I would like the info to be fair and balanced, with no politics, but I doubt it will be

Tell 'em Tommy!

 

[Biscoitos]

It's all part of inclusion, I think. Black troops may not have been a part of the siege operations but they were part of the Battle at Milliken's Bend across the river in Louisiana. This was part of the overall Vicksburg campaign. We live in times where inclusion is part of the national battlefield framework, so thus the monument to the black soldiers.

Milliken's Bend is outside the area covered by VNMP by Federal Government mandate.

 

[Tompre]

Have you been down to Charles new museum. He has acquired a LOT of Vicksburg and surrounding battlefield arty and relics. I was in heaven.

Home - Vicksburg Civil War Museum

After seeing it all on my next trip I donated one that he didn't have. If you go tell him I sent you and he will charge you DOUBLE

View attachment 529539View attachment 529540View attachment 529541View attachment 529542View attachment 529544View attachment 529545

I wish he could have gotten the Whistling Dick shell from Tom Dickey.

 

[Biscoitos]

I wish he could have gotten the Whistling Dick shell from Tom Dickey.

I know where a bolt from WD is and might be for sale. Had a wrought iron sabot, now gone.
Pictured in one of the Projectile books, not sure which book right now. But it is this exact projectile pictured in the book.
Any idea what it might be worth?

 

[Tompre]

I know where a bolt from WD is and might be for sale. Had a wrought iron sabot, now gone.
Pictured in one of the Projectile books, not sure which book right now. But it is this exact projectile pictured in the book.
Any idea what it might be worth?

I don't have any idea as to it's worth. Although it is a very rare projectle. The gentleman who found the shell Dickey had wouldn't sell it. But the guy wound up trading it to Dickey for a boat and motor. Charles would probably pay the owners price, if the guy wanted to sell it.