The History of An Iconic Structure On Hills of Vicksburg

A picture of the historic Old Court House Museum that was built in 1858 and withstood the Siege of Vicksburg in 1863. It is an iconic structure on the hills of Vicksburg and encompasses one city block.  

Below is a history lesson that was shared to me by Pat (a tour guide) of this historical building in our hometown that we all treasure.  

If one were looking at the original plat of Vicksburg that Newitt had laid out, he or she would see that the block where the Old Court House Museum sits in the heart of the original town.  It was chosen by our founder, Newitt Vick as the site for his townhouse.  He had a vision and he wanted to see it come to fruition.  When he realized he was not going to survive yellow fever, he made a deathbed will and bequeathed that block to the citizen of Vicksburg to be used for public purposes. (Should it ever not be used for such, the property would revert to his heirs.)  Up until 1835, when Vicksburg became the County Seat of Warren County, it was used as parade and picnic grounds.  In 1835, after becoming the County Seat of Warren County, a small wooden courthouse was built, which was finally outgrown.  All the records were removed to another location for business in 1857, the building razed, and the building that stands today was built by 100 skilled slave artisans owned by the Weldon Brothers between 1858-1860.  The building facade was brick which was whitewashed.  It was stuccoed to look like stone in  1905.  

Two civil war cannons abreast on the grounds of the Old Court House Museum.

I took this picture of one of three massive oak trees across from the Old Court House Museum on the grounds of the New Court House Museum.  

A perfect place to sit and watch the world go by.  

In the background, you can see part of the New Court House.  

The dogwoods trees are almost in full bloom at the Old Court House Museum (a national historic landmark) that stands prominently on the hills of Vicksburg, MS.