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Day 3 Vicksburg Battlefield Loop

Riding out from our inns today, we cycle through Vicksburg and past scenic overlooks of the Mississippi River.  Ouer destination is Vicksburg National Military Park, home to the country's largest Civil War cemetery.  We stop at the Visitor's Center to watch a short documentary film, then join a local historian for a guided tour of the park's historic battlefields, which feature reconstructed forts and trenches and are punctuated by more than 1,330 monuments and memorials to both Union and Confederate soldiers.

Encompassing more than 1,000 acres, the park is rife with rolling hills, making today's ride the most challenging of our tour.  We alight to explore the USS Cairo Museum, enjoying a closer look at the formidable Union ironclad, which in 1862 became the first ship to be sunk by a mine.  We'll also pause for a picnic lunch, during which our local guide offers more Civil War insights, chronicling the decisive Seige of Vicksburg.

Cycling back to our inns, you may choose to visit the Old Courthouse Museum.  The impressive and imposing antebellum building, which was named a National Historic Landmark in 1968, houses an eclectic array of Civil War artifacts - including the tie Confederate President Jefferson Davis wore to his inauguration - many of which were donated by local residents.

Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own in Vicksburg.

Hotels: Baer House Inn, Anchuca Mansion

Meals: B,L

Daily Options: 15 or 20 miles

 

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Morning Coffee
Breakfast

Road Review

Approaching the Bluff
History Lesson

Vicksburg

Vicksburg Stop
Cemetery

Concert at Baer House

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