USS Cairo Museum | Vicksburg

The USS Cairo Museum inside Vicksburg-national-military-park_vicksburg" class="underline">Vicksburg National Military Park is one of the park’s most fascinating and unique stops, offering a rare chance to see an actual Civil War ironclad gunboat preserved in remarkable detail. The Cairo (pronounced “KAY-roh”) was one of seven City-class ironclads built for the Union Navy, designed to dominate the rivers and support General Grant’s campaign along the Mississippi.

The Story of the USS Cairo

Commissioned in January 1862, the USS Cairo joined the Mississippi Squadron and quickly became a powerful presence on the rivers.

On December 12, 1862, while steaming up the Yazoo River north of Vicksburg, the gunboat struck two electrically detonated torpedoes (what we would now call naval mines). Within minutes, the ironclad sank in shallow water.

Amazingly, all crew members survived, making it one of the few Civil War shipwrecks without loss of life.

The wreck remained buried in river mud until the 1960s, when it was located, raised, and eventually preserved for display.

The Exhibit Today

The restored skeleton of the gunboat sits under a protective canopy, giving visitors an up-close view of its iron plating, timber frame, paddlewheel machinery, and gun ports. You can walk alongside the length of the vessel and truly grasp its scale.

Surrounding the ship is the USS Cairo Museum, which houses hundreds of artifacts recovered from the wreck. Because the boat sank so quickly and the mud sealed much of it, many objects are astonishingly well preserved.

Artifacts on Display

Personal items: shoes, uniforms, mess kits, and even playing cards from sailors, offering intimate glimpses of daily life on board.

Weapons and ammunition: cannonballs, shells, and small arms used during naval operations.

Ship equipment: parts of engines, anchors, tools, and even medical supplies, showing the complexity of running a warship.

Food remains: preserved bottles, tin cans, and cooking gear - reminders of the diet of Civil War sailors.

Atmosphere and Visitor Experience

Standing beside the Cairo, it is easy to imagine the noise of boilers, the heat of the engines, and the thunder of its 13 cannons in action. The exposed timbers give it the feel of a shipwreck frozen in time, while the nearby exhibits fill in the personal side of the story. The combination of massive iron machinery and delicate everyday belongings makes the museum one of the most moving experiences in the park.

The protective structure also allows for visits in any weather, and the boardwalk paths make it accessible to nearly everyone. The site often becomes a favorite stop for school groups, Civil War enthusiasts, and casual travelers alike because it feels so tangible and direct compared to monuments or markers.

Significance

The USS Cairo is the only surviving Union ironclad from the Civil War, making it not just a museum piece but a national treasure. Its recovery helped historians understand 19th-century naval engineering, while its artifacts opened a rare window into riverine warfare and sailor life. For many, visiting the Cairo is the highlight of a trip to Vicksburg National Military Park.