Vicksburg
Around Vicksburg
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Mississippi · 50k people
Vicksburg
“Key City”, “Red Carpet City”
Steeped in history, flowing with charm.
RedDeep Blue
Welcome to Vicksburg, where the river meets history. Whether you're here for the battlefield, the catfish, or just the view, you'll find a town that's proud of its past and always ready to chat.
Clubs for Vicksburg
No clubs for Vicksburg yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Vicksburg. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Vicksburg. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Vicksburg National Military Park Civil War battlefield with monuments and a driving tour
- USS Cairo Museum Recovered Civil War ironclad gunboat
- Old Courthouse Museum Greek Revival courthouse with local history exhibits
- Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum Site of the first bottled Coca-Cola
- Vicksburg Riverfront Murals Large murals depicting local history along the levee
- Catfish Row Museum Cultural center celebrating river life
- Outdoors Hiking the military park
- Outdoors Fishing on the Mississippi
- With kids Tour the USS Cairo Museum
- With kids Ride a riverboat cruise
- Evenings Casino floors
- Evenings Washington Street bars
- Locals love Riverboat casinos
- Locals love Historic home tours
Through the year
- Vicksburg Riverfront Music Series summer Free summer concerts along the river
- Vicksburg Riverfest September Family festival with food, live music, and river activities
- Vicksburg Battlefield Marathon March Runs through the national military park
- Vicksburg Farmers Market spring through fall Weekly local produce and crafts
Humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The best times to be out are spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal – mild temps and low humidity.
Talk like a local
- “Hill City”
- Nickname for Vicksburg, referencing its hills
- “the Bluff”
- Refers to the bluffs overlooking the river
Getaways
- Jackson State capital with museums and dining
- Natchez Historic antebellum homes and river views
- Brookhaven Small-town charm and outdoor recreation
- Monroe Louisiana city with a lively music scene
Local flavour
Rooting for New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Ole Miss Rebels
Eat and drink
- Fried catfish A staple of local Southern cuisine, often served with hushpuppies.
- Hushpuppies Cornmeal fritters, a classic side to catfish.
- Sweet tea The quintessential Southern drink, served everywhere.
- Mississippi mud pie A rich chocolate dessert, though not exclusively local.
Where people go
- Civil War battlefields Vicksburg National Military Park, a key site of the Civil War.
- Riverboat casinos Casino boats on the Mississippi River, a modern local attraction.
- Historic antebellum homes Well-preserved pre-Civil War architecture in the historic district.
Heritage and traditions
Vicksburg is proud of its pivotal Civil War history, the mighty Mississippi River, and its role as the birthplace of bottled Coca-Cola, all woven into a resilient Southern river town with deep blues roots.
This time of year in Vicksburg
- Fall Pilgrimage Fall Historic home tours in October.
- Vicksburg Fall Pilgrimage October Another round of historic home tours, usually in October.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to (do something)
Festivals
- Vicksburg Spring Pilgrimage March–April Annual tours of antebellum homes and gardens, held in March and April.
- Vicksburg Fall Pilgrimage October Another round of historic home tours, usually in October.
- Christmas in Vicksburg December Holiday tours of decorated historic homes and candlelight events.
- Battle of Vicksburg Reenactment May Living history events recreating the 1863 siege, often in May.
Landmarks with a story
- Anchuca Mansion An 1830s antebellum home, now a bed and breakfast, with a balcony where Jefferson Davis reportedly spoke.
- Cedar Grove An 1840s mansion with Civil War damage still visible; now a hotel.
- Balfour House A historic home used as a Confederate headquarters during the siege.
- St. Michael's Catholic Church A historic church with roots in the city's early immigrant communities.
- Vicksburg City Cemetery Historic cemetery with many Civil War graves and Confederate monuments.
- Temple Anshe Chesed A historic synagogue, now a museum, reflecting Vicksburg's Jewish heritage.
Food traditions
- Mississippi Delta Tamales Spicy, slow-simmered tamales introduced by Mexican laborers in the early 20th century, now a regional favorite.
- Coca-Cola Floats A nod to Vicksburg being the first place to bottle Coca-Cola, often served at soda fountains.
- Biscuits and Gravy A classic Southern breakfast, often made with sausage gravy.
- Pimento Cheese Sandwiches A Southern staple, served at gatherings and church picnics.
- Pecan Pie A dessert made with local pecans, especially during holidays.
Music and arts
- Delta blues Vicksburg's location in the Mississippi Delta makes it a key stop on the blues heritage trail.
- Riverfront murals Large murals along the levee depicting local history and river life.
- Community theater Local groups perform in historic venues, keeping Southern drama alive.
A little history
- 1863 Siege of Vicksburg
- 1894 First Coca-Cola bottling
- 19th century Steamboat era on the Mississippi
- 1927 Great Mississippi Flood
- 1990s Riverboat casinos introduced
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Bass fishing tournaments
- Outdoors Kayaking on the Mississippi River
- Outdoors Duck hunting in the Delta
- With kids Watching Civil War reenactments
- With kids Taking a horse-drawn carriage tour
A classic Southern drawl with a slow, warm cadence. Locals often use 'y'all' and 'fixin' to' in everyday speech.
Only here
- The first bottled Coca-Cola was produced in Vicksburg in 1894.
- The USS Cairo is one of the first ironclad warships sunk by a naval mine.
- The city is known as the 'Gibraltar of the Confederacy' for its Civil War defenses.
- The Mississippi River forms a sharp bend here, and the city sits on high bluffs.
New here? A few tips
- Be ready for hot, humid summers; stay hydrated and use sunscreen.
- Learn to say 'Vicksburg' with a short 'i' – it's 'Vicks-burg', not 'Vicks-berg'.
- Try a Mississippi Delta tamale – they're a local specialty.
- The river is central; take time to walk the levee and see the murals.
- Traffic can be heavy during pilgrimages; plan ahead.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Part of Jackson area
Nearby
Every areaWinnsboroLouisianaWhere the Mississippi meets the cotton fieldsJacksonMississippiWhere the blues and magnolias meetBrookhavenMississippiA slice of Southern comfort in the Piney Woods.NatchezMississippiWhere the Old South whispers along the river.MonroeLouisianaWhere the Ouachita flows and the welcome is warmGreenvilleMississippiThe Delta's beating heartMcCombMississippiWhere the pines meet southern hospitalityGreenwoodMississippiWhere the blues sing and the catfish fry.
Vicksburg, MS. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.