Civil War History and Heritage
Civil War History and Heritage
Immerse yourself in America’s Civil War with a visit to Tupelo, MS. The Battle of Brice’s Crossroads, the Battle of Tupelo/Harrisburg, and the Battle of Old Town Creek were the last stands of the Confederate cavalry in Northeast Mississippi, during the summer of 1864. Today, visitors can walk in the footsteps of soldiers who defended this land and delve deeper into these decisive battles that occurred in and around Tupelo.
The Mississippi’s Final Stands Interpretive Center serves as a guide to enthusiasts interested in Mississippi’s place in the Civil War. The center’s many interpretive exhibits explain the state’s role in the Civil War and how the battles fought here were significant to the progress of the war. A film also chronicles the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads and its significance to the war and military history.
Located just minutes from the center is Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield where guests can walk the1,600-acre hallowed ground. A one-acre site maintained by the National Park Service at the site of the Brice house contains a monument and two cannons which commemorate the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads. Adjacent to the monument is Bethany Historic Cemetery which contains a mass grave of Confederate soldiers and markers for ninety-six Confederate soldiers who were known to have been killed during the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads.
The Tupelo National Battlefield site is marked in the heart of town. The first day of the Battle of Tupelo/Harrisburg was fought here with over 20,000 soldiers and was the last time that Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest's renowned cavalry fought Union infantry during the Civil War. Across town, the Battle of Town Creek interprets the second day of fighting during the Battle of Tupelo/Harrisburg.
Tupelo’s Civil War history is further preserved through the Heritage Trails Enrichment Program, marking significant sites throughout town. From makeshift hospitals and prisons to homes where famous generals stayed, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of what life was like for soldiers and residents of Northeast Mississippi during the war.
With comfortable accommodations, unique local restaurants, and three distinct shopping districts, Tupelo is the perfect place to begin your Civil War journey. Imagine what you can do here!
- Confederate President Jefferson Davis calls for March 27 to be a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer.
- Following the Underground Railroad Route By Bicycle
- March is Women's History Month! Read the fascinating accounts of women spies hiding coded messages in women's hair, conductors of the Underground Railroad, soldiers disguised as men, surgeons, and advisors to the President!
- Teachers tackle race, economic disparity and history
- The President's Hymn: 'Give Thanks All Ye People'
- Thanksgiving Day during the Civil War
- Lincoln’s Thanksgiving proclamation in a divided time: ‘one heart and one voice by the whole American People’
- What Abraham Lincoln found reading the Book of Job amid civil war
- Civil War stories on display at Lincoln Highway museum in Unity
- Who was Henry Benning, for whom Fort Benning in Columbus was named?
- Fort Gordon Army Base: Who was John Brown Gordon?
- From the Civil War to the football field, we have been celebrating the wrong values
- History and Healing: Removing Controversial Artifacts from the Civic Landscape
- How to Reframe the Civil War in the Classroom
- Man scores Abraham Lincoln autograph in box of trading cards
- Native Americans' role in the Civil War
- Abraham Lincoln Healed a Divided Nation. We Should Heed His Words Today.
- An escaped slave was the 'Florence Nightingale’ of Indiana's Civil War regiment
- A Southern Democrat survived impeachment trap and came to be in charge of Reconstruction
- New Statue Unveiled In Response To Richmond's Confederate Monuments