VICKSBURG, Miss. ( WJTV ) – History buffs travel from far and wide to visit the Civil War battlefields and buildings in Mississippi that have been turned into historical sites.

Mississippi joined the Union in 1817, and was the second southern state to declare its secession in 1861. The Confederacy lost the war in 1865.

During the Civil War, Mississippi cities, including Vicksburg and Corinth, played crucial roles in battle. Here are eight historical sites that you can visit in the Magnolia State:

Vicksburg National Military Park

The Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates one of the Civil War’s pivotal campaigns. There are more than 1,400 memorial monuments, tablets and markers in the 1,800-acre park. The park also features 20 miles of trenches and earthworks. The USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum are also located within the park.

Vicksburg National Cemetery

The Vicksburg National Cemetery holds the remains of 17,000 Civil War Union soldiers. The Confederate dead from the Vicksburg campaign were re-interred in the Vicksburg City Cemetery (Cedar Hill Cemetery), in an area called “Soldiers’ Rest.” The Vicksburg National Cemetery is located by the USS Cairo in the Vicksburg National Military Park.

Vicksburg Campaign Trail

The trail includes nationally significant sites associated with Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s Campaign for and Siege of Vicksburg. The trail includes sites in Raymond, Port Gibson and Champion Hill. This is a self-guided driving tour .

Grand Gulf Military Park

The Grand Gulf Military Park was dedicated to preserving the memory of the town and battled that occurred there. Grand Gulf is located about eight miles northwest of Port Gibson. The park includes Fort Cobun and Fort Wade, the Grand Gulf Cemetery, and museum.

Pemberton’s Headquarters

Pemberton’s Headquarters was the residence that Confederate Lt. General John C. Pemberton occupied during the Siege of Vicksburg. The building is also where Pemberton held a council of his officers to discuss plans for surrender of the city.

Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield

Located 20 miles north of Tupelo, Brices Cross Roads was a significant victory for Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest. However, its long term effect on the Civil War proved costly for the Confederates. The national battlefield was established in February 1929.

Siege and Battle of Corinth

In 1862, Union Major General Henry W. Halleck besieged and captured Corinth, which had two major rail lines running through it. The siege and battled ended with a Union victory. Faced with a lack of water and disease, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard withdrew to Tupelo.

Tupelo National Battlefield

In July 1864, Union forces marched into Tupelo. Neither side could claim a clear victory, but Union troopers kept the Confederates away from Union railroads in Tennessee.

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