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Vicksburg, Mississippi - Part 5
Written by: Janet Pope
Photography by: Donald
We have all heard of Vicksburg but here our reporters get a different slant with a tour of the Army Corps of Engineers laboratory and a walk through town. When the steamboat leaves, the calliope plays and the world now knows where we are!
Today the boat gave a tour of the Vicksburg Battlefield, but Don and I were lucky enough to get a private tour of the town by my cousin Joan who lives there. Those who went on the tour raved about it.
Vicksburg is a port town with a very hilly contour. Those hills are what allowed the Confederate cannons to have control over military movements on the Mississippi River. This made Vicksburg a key-controlling element in the Civil War.
Joan pointed out that there are three major industries in Vicksburg: tourism, casino gambling and the Army Corps of Engineers, with whom she works. Their job is to maintain the nation's water infrastructure to support the military and to maintain the environmental stability of the river. It is a fascinating complex and they give tours by appointment. Joan gave us a VIP tour and showed us a few of the environmental laboratories; one of which had an ocean built to scale inside. Its purpose is to perform tests on the formation and control of waves by various materials. It was very interesting to see this miniature beach set up inside a huge "fish tank."
We then drove through the heart of the town passing about three B&Bs and a variety of quaint shops, including an artist's studio, boutiques and craft shops. I did my best to aid the economy of this town too.
We boarded the boat by noon, in time for the Picnic Luncheon Buffet, which served everything you would imagine a southern feast to have; southern fried chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, etc, etc, etc., without the ants. During lunch, we enjoyed steamboat races, where six passengers moved large boat models along a "river track," as indicated by a spin of the dice. Guests place their hopes and dollars on each numbered boat, thinking it would cross the finish line first. I was in charge of number 6 and we won several times. This helped cover some of my bingo losses.
Today was a beautiful day on the river so we decided to enjoy the view and spend some time reading and relaxing on the deck. There were many other activities of which to take advantage like kite flying and calliope playing, but doing nothing sounded nice, too. I signed Don and myself up for a scheduled activity before dinner - one he reluctantly went along with. The captain of the boat held a champagne reception for anyone wanting to renew his or her marriage vows. The affair was complete with a photographer, a march down the aisle, a wedding dance and even the cutting of the cake. The couples' wedding anniversaries ranged from 20 years to 60 years and some were for the second time around.
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American Queen parked in Vicksberg | |
I found it a touching moment and the atmosphere was sweet and nostalgic, but most of the men looked like they were there for the champagne, Don included.
Another spectacular meal and music by the piano bar made our evening complete. A stroll around the deck under the stars was the perfect ending to a perfect day on the river.
Part 1 - American Queen - Jazz and Blues Cruise
Part 2 - Vacherie, Louisiana
Part 3 - St. Francisville, Louisiana
Part 4 - Natchez, Mississippi
Part 5 - Vicksburg, Mississippi
Part 6 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Part 7 - Mardi Gras, New Orleans
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