There are several places in Mississippi where you can learn about the Civil War. In addition to museums and battlefields, the Magnolia State is home to the Vicksburg National Military Park. The renowned park is brimming with war-related sites and relics. Among them, you’ll find the USS Cairo, one of the first ironclad warships built at the start of the war. Sunk in battle, the ship sat at the river’s bottom for decades before being raised from its watery grave. Take a look:
With over 1,340 monuments, markers, tablets, and plaques, the Vicksburg National Military Park is one of the most densely monumented battlefields in the entire world.
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But that’s not all the park has going for it. It’s also home to the USS Cairo, which was one of seven river ironclads built at the beginning of the Civil War.
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All seven ironclads were named after towns situated along the upper Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. The USS Cairo, for instance, was named in honor of Cairo, Illinois.
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Specifically designed for use in shallow waters, the ironclads trolled the Mississippi River and attached waterways, ravaging Confederate supply lines.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph/Wikimedia
The USS Cairo was commissioned in January of 1862 and met its demise on December 12th of the same year. On that cold December morning, the USS Cairo was navigating the Yazoo River when it came under fire a few miles north of Vicksburg.
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During the impromptu battle, the ironclad was rocked by two explosions and extensively damaged. The first explosion tore a huge hole in the left side of the vessel, at which point it began to quickly fill with water.
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Within 12 minutes, the USS Cairo was 36’ below the river’s surface, where it remained for more than 100 years.
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Recovering the Civil War vessel from the murky river waters was no easy task. However, there was a plus side – the river’s silt and mud basically formed a protective cocoon, creating an oxygen-free environment and ultimately safeguarding the ship’s contents from deterioration.
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In the summer of 1965, the USS Cairo was raised from its watery grave and transported to Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, where it was cleaned, repaired, and stored.
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More than 10 years later, in June of 1977, the ironclad was moved to its permanent home at the Vicksburg National Military Park.
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Today, the USS Cairo, along with the treasure trove of artifacts found in its interior, is on display for public viewing.
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faungg’s photos/Flickr
Willie Grayer/Google
Abhishek Tripathi/Google
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph/Wikimedia
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Jeroen Slikker/Google
Douglas Grohne/Wikimedia
Wt Mt Jay/Google
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For more information on the USS Cairo and the Vicksburg National Military Park, call (601) 636-0583. You can also visit the park’s website.
Ever been to the Vicksburg National Military Park? Have you visited the USS Cairo? If so, what’d you think? Tell us in the comments section.
This isn’t the only great historic site in Mississippi. Read about others here.
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Address: 3201 Clay St, Vicksburg, MS 39183, USA
