National Parks

VICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK - Vicksburg

Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the site of the American Civil War Battle of Vicksburg, waged from March 29 to July 4, 1863. The park, located in Vicksburg, Mississippi (flanking the Mississippi River), also commemorates the greater Vicksburg Campaign which led up to the battle. Reconstructed forts and trenches evoke memories of the 47-day siege that ended in the surrender of the city. Victory here and at Port Hudson, farther south in Louisiana, gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.

The park includes 1,325 historic monuments and markers, 20 miles of historic trenches and earthworks, a 16-mile tour road, a 12.5-mile walking trail, two antebellum homes, 144 emplaced cannons, the restored gunboat USS Cairo (sunk on December 12, 1862, on the Yazoo River), and the Grant's Canal site, where the Union Army attempted to build a canal to let their ships bypass Confederate artillery fire.

Admission:
Per Vehicle - $20.00 (valid 7 days)
Motorcycles - $15.00 (valid 7 days)
Pedestrians, Bicycles - $10.00
Bus Passenger/Church Van - $10.00 per person, not to exceed commercial rate below.
Commercial Groups (provided by non-NPS charter tour companies) -
1-6 Person Capacity Vehicles - $25.00 plus $7 per passenger
7-25 Person Capacity Vehicles- $40.00
Over 25 Person Capacity Vehicles- $100.00

Vicksburg Annual Pass - $35.00 per year (valid for one year from date of purchase)

Hours: Everyday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Address: 3201 Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS 39183

Phone: (601) 636-0583

photo courtesy of Kid-Friendly Mississippi

Gulf Islands National Seashore: Davis Bayou Area - Ocean Springs

Gulf Islands National Seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico from Cat Island in Mississippi to the Okaloosa Area in Florida, and includes maritime forests, bayous, and marine habitat.

The Mississippi areas are home of a historic fort and the most beautiful barrier islands in the United States. Relax, enjoy the scenery, hike a trail, or explore the fort. Whether you visiting for a day or a week there are many places to explore.

There are a variety of activities while visiting the seashore’s Mississippi areas including swimming, bicycling, snorkeling, fishing, hiking, beach combing, bird watching, boating, and camping.

Davis Bayou offers many recreational opportunities for visitors year-round such as fishing, boating, biking, bird watching, picnicking and attending ranger-led programs. Visitors may also enjoy hiking along the Davis Bayou Trail, which takes visitors through a coastal forest and over two local bayous, with an opportunity to see alligators and other reptiles. The campground offers easy access, a 1/2 mile, to the park's boat launch, as well as the scenic Davis Bayou Trail. The fishing pier, located near the Visitor Center, may be used by visitors who possess a Mississippi State Saltwater Fishing License.

Amenities:
William M. Colmer Visitor Center: Explore indoor exhibits about the shore and the islands.
Visitor Center Fishing Pier: An excellent site to cast a line. (The pier is currently closed due to hurricane damage.)
Hiking Trails: There are several short hiking trails throughout the area.
Campground: Visit our Developed Campgrounds page to learn more about camping in the area.
Boat Launch: For a small fee, launch your boat and park your vehicle for a day on the water.
Picnic Area: There is a large area for picnicing including five picnic shelters.

Admission: No Entrance Fee

Hours: Year-round 8:00 a.m. to sunset
Visitor Center, Fishing Pier, and Bookstore: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Robert McGhee Road (Davis Bayou Boat Launch & Picnic Area): 6:00 a.m. to sunset.

Address: 3500 Park Rd, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Phone: 228-230-4100

photo courtesy of Carol T.

Tupelo National Battlefield

More than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers fought here between the morning of July 14 and the evening of July 15, 1864.

Address: 2680 Natchez Trace ParkwayTupelo, MS 38804

Phone: 1 (800) 305-7417

photo courtesy of Chris Light

NATCHEZ NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Natchez National Historical Park tells the story of Natchez in the American South. The park protects the sites and structures associated with the peoples of Natchez and its surrounding area from earliest inhabitants to the modern era. The name Natchez is derived from the "Natchez" American Indians who inhabited the area at the time of European exploration. The historic sites maintained by the park, and the surrounding preservation district, give visitors an opportunity to understand the region's social political, and economic development, particularly in the pre-and-post Civil War era's. They also provide insights into the region's commercial and agricultural history, especially in relation to the Mississippi River, slavery, and cotton. Cotton planters in Natchez and the surrounding area relied on slave labor to make their business highly profitable. With those profits they built palatial columned mansions on the area, many which remain today.

The park is composed of three NPS owned properties: Melrose, the William Johnson House, and the Fort Rosalie site, and a larger area known as the preservation district.

Admission:
The William Johnson House: Admission: Free

Melrose Estate:
Melrose Estate's grounds, outbuildings, and formal gardens are free.
Guided House Tour Fee: (cash or check only)
Tickets can be purchased in the Visitor Center at Melrose Estate.
Adults (ages 18 to 61): $10.00
Senior Citizens (ages 62 or older, U.S. Citizens Only): $5.00
Students (ages 6 to 17): $5.00
Children (ages 0-5): Free

Hours:
Melrose Estate
Melrose Estate is open every day except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
The estate's grounds and gardens are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Guided tours of the Melrose mansion are offered daily at:
10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.

The William Johnson House
The William Johnson House is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch.
Effective March 4, 2018 the William Johnson House site will not open until 12:00 p.m. on Sundays and will close at 5:00 p.m.
The William Johnson House is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Natchez Visitor Center
The Natchez Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Fort Rosalie
Fort Rosalie site is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Address: 1 Melrose Montebello Pkwy Natchez, MS 39120

Phone: (601) 446-5790

photo courtesy of Natchez National Historical Park