Friends of Vicksburg

PARK RESTORATION

The Vicksburg National Military Park has begun a battlefield restoration project, which will cover about 90 acres within the Park. Restoration will involve removal of woodland cover on sites where key military engagements in the battle occurred. What this will mean is visitors now will be able to see and understand the battles that took place. The cost of the project is $300,000, and funding was made possible by a generous gift by Mr. John Nau and family. The project should be completed by early Spring, 2012.

UNITED STATES MINT RELEASES 2011 MISSISSIPPI "America the Beautiful" QUARTER AT VICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK

The United States Mint and National Park Service officially released the "America the Beautiful Quarter: honoring Mississippi and Vicksburg on August 30th, 2011, at the Vicksburg National Military Park. The Vicksburg coin, which is being distributed nationally, features the USS Cairo on its obverse, and is the ninth coin relased in this series dedicated to America's most scenic and historic places. Vicksburg was chosen by the Mississippi Legislature to represent the state, and the image of the USS Cairo was approved by the Secretary of the Treasury. Depiction of this historic icon on the quarter emphasizes the crucial importance of control of the Mississippi River to both the Union and the Confederate armies during the American Civil War. The USS Cairo, a U.S. Navy ironclad river boat was sunk by Confederates in the Yazoo River north of Vicksburg, was raised in 1964, and is now on permanent display in the Park.

The Cermonial release of the coin was attended by over 2,500 people. Attendees could purchase rolls of the quarters after completion of the ceremony.