Scheduled to Open in 2028

Architect – Perkins and Will | Museum Design Team – Gallagher & Associates

The Civil War reshaped the nation and American history, and no place tells its story more powerfully than Vicksburg. Here, on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, Union and Confederate forces fought for control of the lifeline of a nation. The siege and surrender of Vicksburg in 1863 marked a turning point in the war—securing the river, splitting the Confederacy, and shaping the course of our country.

Today, more than 160 years later, a bold new vision is rising from this hallowed ground:  the Vicksburg Civil War Visitor Center, a one-of-a-kind partnership with the National Park Service, the State of Mississippi, and the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign.

Opening in 2028, this new Center will expand the story and deepen the experience, ensuring that the lessons of Vicksburg are never forgotten while also serving as a catalyst for cultural tourism, education, and economic growth across Mississippi and the South.

The significance of the Vicksburg Campaign cannot be fully appreciated without a modern facility capable of telling its story with clarity, accuracy, and emotional power. The current visitor center—built for a different era of interpretation and visitation—cannot meet the demands of today’s audiences or protect the growing collection of artifacts, archival materials, and archaeological discoveries.

• Interpret the Vicksburg Campaign in a national context, helping visitors understand why these events reshaped the country.
• Present artifacts, archives, and multimedia exhibits that bring to life the soldiers, families, and communities who experienced the campaign firsthand.
• Serve as an educational hub for students, teachers, families, and lifelong learners from across the nation and around the world.
• Preserve irreplaceable collections that deepen our understanding of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the continuing struggle over freedom and citizenship.
• Provide flexible space for educational events, community programming, and interpretive activities that engage both local residents and visitors, deepening their understanding of Vicksburg’s history and enriching community heritage.

Vicksburg is not just a place where history happened. It is a place where the direction of the United States changed. Building the new visitor center and museum ensures that future generations understand the stakes, sacrifices, and enduring legacy of this pivotal campaign.

More than 100,000 soldiers from dozens of states, North and South, fought across the landscapes now preserved at Vicksburg National Military Park. Their experiences tell a human story of bravery, hardship, innovation, and sacrifice. Vicksburg is also the final resting place of over 17,000 United States soldiers, including the largest number of African-American troops laid to rest in any national cemetery.

Beyond the battlefield, the campaign reshaped the lives of civilians, enslaved people seeking freedom within Union lines, newly liberated communities, and families whose futures were tied to the outcomes of the conflict. The events at Vicksburg are essential to understanding the complex, evolving story of America.

Perched high above a sweeping bend of the Mississippi River, Vicksburg held a strategic importance unmatched in the American Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln famously said, “Vicksburg is the key,” recognizing that whoever controlled this fortress city controlled the nation’s most critical waterway. The Vicksburg Campaign, spanning from the winter of 1862 through the surrender on July 4, 1863, became a defining chapter in the struggle for the nation’s future.

The Mississippi River was the commercial lifeline of the continent, linking farms, plantations, industrial centers, and global ports. Confederate control over a 200-mile stretch of the river, anchored by Vicksburg, split the Union geographically and economically. Its bluffs and network of defenses made Vicksburg one of the most fortified positions in the Western Hemisphere.

General Ulysses S. Grant’s campaign to capture Vicksburg was one of the most complex military operations in American history. His plan pushed the boundaries of 19th-century warfare, marrying naval  power with coordinated ground assaults, engineering feats, rapid marches, and risky river crossings. The eventual siege tested the endurance of soldiers and civilians alike. For 47 days, Union forces tightened their lines while Confederate soldiers and Vicksburg’s residents endured bombardment, dwindling food, and collapsing infrastructure.

On July 4, 1863, the Confederate surrender at Vicksburg gave the Union full control of the Mississippi River. This victory, paired with the Union success at Gettysburg the day before, marked a decisive turning point. The Confederacy was permanently split, weakening its ability to supply armies and sustain the war, while elevating Grant to national prominence and ultimately to the presidency.