Sunday in Vicksburg

I can't believe it is already Sunday!  Wow...our anniversary weekend is passing by way to fast.  We slept in this morning...perhaps because we have been staying up late talking or watching movies.  Our day began with brunch at Cafe' Anchuca....simply elegant!  There was a formal luncheon at the mansion today so we'll have to go back tomorrow to tour the home...I can't wait!

Christ Episcopal Church (1839)  During the siege of 1863, the Rev. W.W. Lord conducted daily services in spite of the shellings.  It features two Tiffany stained-glass windows.  We didn't get to take a peek inside...maybe next time!

The view around the church...

Next... time for a little refreshment...so we headed to the Biedenharn Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia (1890)  Coca-Cola was first bottled here in 1894.

Our final tour of the day was at the Old Court House Museum (1858-1860)  It is a beautiful antebellum structure which houses thousands of artifacts ranging from pre-Columbian implements, Civil War artifacts and beyond.

The lovely dress on the right was worn by a local Vicksburg lady during the siege.

Vicksburg

Our first stop today was at the Vicksburg National Military Park and Cairo Museum.  So as I was saying yesterday, I love history!  Another passion I have is books!!  So when we entered the visitors center and I laid my eyes on all of those civil war history books...well, let's just say I spent some quality time in the gift/book store!  I did practice some restraint and chose only a few.
 
We watched an informative video of the siege and then proceeded outside to the canon demonstration.  The guide was very informative and several men and boys from the community participated.

 
Next was the 16-mile tour road which contains 1,330 monuments and markers and a National Cemetery.

The Shirley House, or the white house as union soldiers called it, is the only surviving wartime structure in the park.  It served as headquarters for the 45th Illinois Infantry.  

The Illinois Memorial

 

 

The Cairo, a Union Ironclad, was struck by a torpedo detonated by volunteers and sunk in 12 minutes with no casualties. 

Vicksburg National Cemetery...17,000 (13,000 are unknown) Union soldiers are buried here.

It was a very sobering drive through the cemetery...

Later we enjoyed sunset at the Vicksburg Riverfront Murals...

 A wonderful day...spent with the one my soul loves!