MV MS Vessel to Museum

MV Mississippi

Army Corps of Engineers employees have a look at one of the MV Mississippi's two main engines Friday morning. The employees are, from left, Ronnie Mackey, Chief of plant unit; Willie Doss, pile lineman; and Carl Smith, maintenance mechanic.

The pilothouse looks south, toward downtown Vicksburg.

Not many cities have a huge boat sitting on land right in town. Plans are going forward for a Lower MS River Museum and Riverfront Interpretive Center, by President Obama signing the omnibus spending bill. It steer the way for money needed for this project to get underway.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) got a look inside Friday of the 1,450-ton vessel since its slow roll down Washington Street in 2007. The massive twin engines are bigger than some people's houses they said. On the tour Friday, Corps of Engineers managers and the City of Vicksburg Water & Gas Department began the surveys of the boat's power generators for its eventual powering-up to house meeting space and other exhibits. The galley and the engine room will be renovated to become visitor areas. It is expected to be open in 2011. A contract has to be let to build the museum building next to the vessel by September of this year. A walkway and observation deck will be fashioned out of the old Fairground Street bridge, which will be disassembled and rebuilt anew just south of the structures. The motor vessel was purchased from the Memphis District for $1 with plans to make it a showpiece and the school board is mulling and idea to make field trips to the finished museum mandatory for eighth graders. It was a sight to see this big monster vessel being moved (below) from the Yazoo Diversion Canal down the main street of Washington St. which drew hundreds of spectators.

On September 25, 2007, MV Mississippi being moved to its resting place north of town.