Vicksburg is up for the honor of best historical smalltown in the U.S. through Newsweek’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards.
The River City is one of 15 historic towns that made it to the publication’s final round of voting, which opened to the public last week. Others on the list include but are not limited to St. Augustine, Fla.; Breckenridge, Colo; and Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.
“The past and present intertwine in Vicksburg, where visitors flock year-round to sprawling Vicksburg National Military Park. Site of a terrible Civil War siege, the battlefield is dotted with hundreds of monuments worth surveying,” Newsweek editors wrote. “Beyond its battlefield and antebellum homes, Vicksburg fosters a vibrant culinary scene featuring fresh seafood, Southern comfort food, and farm-to-table delights.”
Laura Beth Strickland, executive director of Visit Vicksburg, said the recognition comes at a perfect time with the city set to celebrate its bicentennial in 2025.
“We are so excited for Vicksburg to be recognized as one of the best historical small towns in the nation,” Strickland said. “Vicksburg, Mississippi is full of history going back hundreds of years. Next year, the city will celebrate its bicentennial anniversary of its incorporation, and we are looking forward to sharing many untold stories as we celebrate all year long. We are so excited for this opportunity to be featured among these other amazing historical cities in Newsweek.”
As Newsweek editors pointed out, Vicksburg is best-known for its national military park. However, it is also home to the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum, four casinos, and of course riverboat tours going up and down the Mississippi River.
Vote for Vicksburg in Newsweek’s “Best Historical Smalltown” competition here.
