There are eight national parks in Mississippi. You can learn more about each site below:
NPS Sites Mississippi
- Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
- Gulf Islands National Seashore
- Natchez National Historical Park
- Natchez Trace Parkway
- Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
- Shiloh National Military Park
- Tupelo National Battlefield
- Vicksburg National Military Park
Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
This property is located in Tupelo, Mississippi. It was established in 1929 and commemorates the site of the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads. This is where the Confederate Army defeated a larger Union force in 1864. In doing so, they managed to secure Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The site itself that was listed as one of the national park service sites in Mississippi only measures one acre. However, the actual battlefield site is much larger. The site of this property is also where the Brice family house was once located. A memorial was erected on the site after it was designated a historic site in 1929. It is the only National Battlefield Site that was recognized by the National Park System of the United States.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
This area offers recreational opportunities for tourists while also being an important natural and historic resource. The national seashore is among the list of national park service sites in Florida. The property encompasses the mainland area in the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands and some islands on the Alabama Coast. Among the natural features in the site that visitors can enjoy and explore are historical fortifications, white quartz sand beaches, and nature trails.
Natchez National Historical Park
This is another site in Mississippi that is managed by the US NPS. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 as it commemorates the history of Natchez. There are three sites that this park encompasses: Fort Rosalie, William Johnson House, and Melrose.
Fort Rosalie is the same of an 18th-century French fortification. It was later named Fort Panmure and was controlled by Great Britain and Spain before it finally fell on the hands of the US. Currently, the fort is not open to public access.
William Johnson House commemorates the home of a 19th century African American barber. He was a free man during that time and was a resident of Natchez, Mississippi. His tales of the events of the 19th century were told in his diary, which is now published publicly. Finally, Melrose is an estate owned by John T. McMurran. He is a resident of Natchez during the Civil War. Both this estate and the William Johnson House featured furnishings that were linked to life in antebellum Natchez. All of these items were collected from the Natchez families.
Natchez Trace Parkway
This national parkway stretches for 444 miles from Nashville in Tennessee to the town of Natchez in Mississippi. This route was important during the pre-colonial times since this is the site of Indian burial mounds, as well as other sites of historic interest. No commercial vehicles are allowed to pass through this road. This parkway served as the footpath by Native Americans and early explorers within the region. In the late 18th century, this same road was used by Ohio Valley farmers who went to Mississippi to sell their flatboats and made their way back home via foot.
The parkway is filled with a rich biodiversity and a variety of ecosystems. From bayous to swamps, floodplains to meandering rivers, you can find it in the forests surrounding this famed parkway.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
As one of the national park service sites in Mississippi, this national scenic trail covers over 50 miles of trail that is divided into 5 segments. It was officially designated as a national scenic trail in 1983. Unlike other national scenic trails in the US, though, this one is not a long and continuous path. Instead, it consists of five smaller segments recognized as one, wherein most are used for horseback riding and hiking.
Even though this site is maintained by the National Park Service, it also relies heavily on volunteers to maintain and construct the trails. In the ancient times, this trail was used by Native Americans and various explorers.
Shiloh National Military Park
This park was established to preserve two important battlefields during the American Civil War: Shiloh and Corinth. The Battle of Shiloh lasted for 2 days but it kicked off a 6-month struggle aimed at gaining control of the railroad junction at Corinth. This battle was considered as one of the major battles of the American Civil War era.
Within the park are various historical monuments including the Iowa Monument, The Sunken Road, Confederate Memorial, and the Shiloh National Cemetery.
Tupelo National Battlefield
Another historic battlefield site included in the list of national park service sites in Mississippi is the Tupelo National Battlefield. This historic site aims to commemorate the Battle of Tupelo held in 1864. The said battle saw Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest attempt to cut the railroad that supplied Union march in Atlanta. The naming of the site as a national battlefield was held in 1929. The site is managed by the National Park Service and is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Vicksburg National Military Park
This particular park is shared with the state of Louisiana. It was established to preserve the site where the American Civil War Battle of Vicksburg was held at in 1863. The park is located along the Mississippi River as part of Mississippi and Louisiana. The siege lasted for 47 days and today memories of this important and historic battle are re-told through reconstructed forts and trenches. The site also encompasses various historic monuments, historic trenches, earthworks, walking trails, and antebellum homes.
View all the National Park Service Sites in neighboring states: