Vicksburg National Military Park in Warren County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
The Last of it Kind
Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 25, 2017
1. The Last of it Kind Marker
On December 12, 1862, the ironclad boat Cairo was sunk
in the Yazoo River while mine-clearing. The vessel was
found in 1956. It was raised, restored and relocated here.
The Cairo is the only remaining ironclad of its type in
existence. The first use of an ironclad gunboat in combat in 1862 made every wooden warship in the world obsolete. Both North and South rushed to build these deadly new vessels, but the North's industrial might gave the Union the advantage. The Cairo and her six sister boats dominated the Mississippi.
Ironclad at Rest
Here, you can explore the restored remains of tho USS Cairo. The museum features a Cairo video, a large collection of recovered artifacts, exhibits on Civil War naval operations, a bookstore, information services, and restrooms.
For almost 100 years the USS Cairo lay buried in the muddy Yazoo riverbed. Salvage work began after the gunboat was discovered in 1956, and the Cairo was finally raised in 1964, along with all of her guns, ammunition, ship's stores, and personal items left behind by
this page online
[Photo captions]
Bottom left: Salvage operations raise a cannon from the USS Cairo.
Bottom right: Bow of the Cairo in storage at Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Erected by National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is December 12, 1862.
Location. 32° 22.53′ N, 90° 52.03′ W. Marker is in Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi, in Warren County. Marker can be reached from Union Avenue. Located at the entrance to the Cairo Museum parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vicksburg MS 39183, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Union Fleet (a few steps from this marker); Seven Ironclads in 100 Days (within shouting distance of this marker); Torpedoed & Sunk (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sinking of Cairo (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S.S. Cairo (within shouting distance of this marker); Capstan - USS Cairo (within shouting distance of this marker); Final Resting Place, With Dignity (within shouting distance of this marker); Plenty of Firepower - Armor Plated (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vicksburg National Military Park.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 25, 2017
2. View of marker with the USS Cairo in background.
Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the USS Cairo.. (Submitted on October 31, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Public domain (US-PD), 1862
3. The USS Cairo in the Mississippi River.
USS Cairo 1862 photographed in the Mississippi River area during 1862, with a boat alongside her port bow, crewmen on deck and other river steamers in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2017. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 31, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
