About USS Cairo
The USS Cairo looks less like a traditional ship than a floating armored machine. Built for Union operations on western rivers, the ironclad carried thirteen cannon behind sloping wooden walls covered with iron plate. In December 1862, it sank in only twelve minutes after striking electrically detonated mines in the Yazoo River.
Mud protected much of the wreck for nearly a century. Researchers located it in the late 1950s, and a difficult salvage effort eventually raised the vessel in sections. Conservators rebuilt the surviving structure beneath a protective canopy, creating one of the most complete and visually arresting Civil War naval displays in the country.
Visitors can walk beside and partly through the reconstructed gunboat, then enter a museum filled with weapons, equipment, dishes, clothing, and personal objects recovered from the riverbed. The site lies within Vicksburg National Military Park and follows park entrance fees and operating hours. Daily access is generally available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but checking alerts before arrival is recommended.