FRIENDS OF VICKSBURG
National Military Park & Campaign
Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign is the official philanthropic partner for the Vicksburg National Military Park. Join with us to help preserve these hallowed grounds, make a tangible impact on the visitor experience, and enhance the park for generations to come.
Acres of Battlefield
Cannons, Monuments, Markers & Tablets
Historic Antebellum Homes
About the Friends
Friends of Vicksburg helps ensure the history and lessons of the Vicksburg Campaign remain visible and meaningful. From preserving monuments to supporting educational programs, we’re dedicated to keeping this story alive for generations to come.
Learn More About the Friends
We help preserve the tangible reminders of bravery and perseverance of soldiers, sailors and citizens involved in the struggle for Vicksburg.
President Abraham Lincoln referred to this campaign as the “key” to victory in the Civil War. Our goal is for visitors to the region to experience and understand the impact of the people and events that comprised the most strategic and decisive campaign on the Civil War.
Our 501(c)3 non-profit organization is the official partner organization for VNMP. All tax deductible donations work to help us enhance the battlefield and promote public appreciation for the history it symbolizes. While the park’s basic operations are funded by the National Park Service, many features and programs that visitors enjoy most are made possible through private funds from generous donors like you, including the important work on maintaining one of the nation’s largest collections of sculptures, monuments, markers, and tablets. Friends of VNMP is committed to the park and the public it is designed to serve.
Our Board of Directors
Brig. Gen. Robert Crear – President
Pete Stone – Vice President
Patty Cappaert – Secretary
Don Jarratt – Treasurer
Robert Bailess
Kane Ditto
Mark Hosemann
John Nau
Elee Reeves
Staff
Bess Averett, Executive Director
Sean Simpson, Development Coordinator
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Our Impact
Preservation
We protect Vicksburg’s historic landscape by saving battlefield land from commercial development and ensuring its availability for education and interpretation. Recent efforts include acquiring high-risk parcels near the park, preserving historic acres at Anshe Chesed Cemetery, and partnering with the American Battlefield Trust to safeguard land at Railroad Redoubt.
Education
We connect students, families, and lifelong learners to the history of Vicksburg. From immersive “soldier for a day” tours to expanded Junior Ranger and Ranger-in-Training programs, we spark curiosity and build future stewards. We also co-created the Vicksburg Battle App and Animated Map to enhance learning onsite and beyond.
Restoration
We restore the battlefield’s historic character and interpretive resources. Highlights include returning 22 cast-iron tablets removed during World War II, fully restoring major state memorials, and reopening 90 acres of key vistas so visitors can better understand the 1863 landscape.
Advocacy
We facilitate vital support for the park by championing legislative and funding solutions. Our advocacy helped secure millions in federal resources for storm-damaged roads and historic areas, and led to the 2014 authorization adding Port Gibson, Champion Hill, and Raymond to VNMP.
VOLUNTEERS
We strengthen VNMP through a robust volunteer program that earned the National George and Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. With expanded residency opportunities and record participation, volunteer hours have more than doubled over the past five years.
Capital Projects
We improve visitor access and interpretation through strategic investments. Our first major project at Champion Hill—funded through a mix of private and public support—will provide paved parking, trail improvements, kiosks, and interpretive signage, allowing visitors to more fully experience this decisive Civil War battlefield.
We can’t do it without a little help from our Friends!
Please consider a tax-deductible donation to support the important work of Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign.
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