Our route took us north to Lake Tawakoni where we were lucky to get a lakeside site. Since we were close to the Dallas area, I contacted Dr. Roy, one of my 3rd graders who lives in the area, to see if we could get together for dinner. It was so much fun seeing Beckie again and getting to meet her hubby David.

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Continuing our journey east we are passing many flooded areas. In one area, the water came to within 6-inches of the bridge we crossed! I think we made the right decision.

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Here in Vicksburg, Mississippi our campground is a block from the river and on a bluff. It was fun watching the tugboats pushing the barges up and down this mighty but muddy river.

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Built in 1856 by a local cotton broker for his bride, the mansion was built by skilled slave labor for entertaining in the grand antebellum lifestyle. That life was short lived by the Green family when Civil War reached Vicksburg in 1863. Duff Green is credited with saving his neighborhood including adjoining Christ Episcopal Church by designating the home as a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers. Today this grand mansion is a bed and breakfast.

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Cedar Grove is a magnificent 1840 Greek Revival mansion overlooking the Mississippi. It has 5 acres of formal gardens, gazebos, fountains and courtyards and was built by John Alexander Klein, a shrewd young man who diversified his wealth in the fields of banking, lumber and cotton. When the War came, Cedar Grove experienced bombardment by cannon fire. A cannon ball is still lodged in the parlor wall. Mrs. Klein experienced rejection in Vicksburg due to her family ties to General Sherman.

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This 1876 post bellium Italianate mansion sits atop a bluff overlooking the Mississippi and is probably one of the best preserved historical homes. It has beautiful oval, arched woodwork and trim and intricate Bavarian plaster and gold leaf crown moldings throughout.

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Set atop a high bluff overlooking a river bend, Vicksburg was protected by riverfront artillery batteries, a maze of swamps and bayous to the north and south, and a ring of forts with 172 guns guarding all land approaches. After 46 days of siege, on July 4, 1863, Vicksburg officially surrendered. Driving through this battleground gave one kind of an eerie feeling.

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As you know, Al is an adventurous eater so for dinner he just had to sample the crawfish...

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...and frog legs! Better him then me!

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Since Jackson was so close, we decided to day trip see the state capitol building that has been the seat of the state's government since 1903. It is a monument to Mississippi's government and to the Beaux Arts style of architecture which is defined as scholarly, self-confident, grand and lush. We do enjoy visiting state capitol buildings and this one certainly impressed us.

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The original governor's stable has been transformed into a quaint little lunch spot with the old stalls serving as private little lunch alcoves.

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One of the many mansions surrounding the capitol area.

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Found the perfect spot on the Mississippi to enjoy a sunset. A bonus was the tugboats moored for the night right in front of us!

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Old Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church was where folk singer and political activist Pete Seeger was performing for a large crowd of Freedom Summer 1964 volunteers when he received word that the bodies of Civil Rights workers James Chancy, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman had been found. The crowd joined hands and sang. We Shall Overcome.

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These strange looking Muscovy ducks are a large duck native to Mexico, Central and South America that have established themselves in southern United States.

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The Highland Park Dentzel Carousel was manufactured around 1896 for the 1904 St. Louis Exposition. It was sold and shipped to Meridian, Mississippi and has been in operation here since 1909 and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987. It is the only remaining two-row stationary Dentzel menagerie in the world.

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Keeping with the carousel theme, there are some 60 horses around town, each of which has its own sponsor, special theme and unique design painted by a commissioned artist. Debbie Mathews was the artist of this horse named Winnie.

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One colorful horse was prettier then the next. Jane Kynerd was the artist who designed Fair Filly.

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