Adventures of Tin Can Lulu

The town of Vicksburg is loaded with history and there are gems to be explored.

Did you know that tamales are famous in Mississippi? The connection is really about labor and the people who worked in the Mississippi Delta. These were working class, agrarian poor people. It was a cheap way for them to eat. Nostalgia helps keep them popular today.

The Original Solly’s Hot Tamales was established in 1939 and these have to be the best tamales that we have had in Mississippi. We ate there twice!!

Vicksburg’s Old Court House Museum is filled with history of the area and is located on one of the highest hills in the city. The courtroom features ornate cast iron judge’s dias and railings, and an iron stairway connects the first and second floors of the museum. Love digging into history in local areas!

Scenes around Vicksburg!

Cycling took us to the Vicksburg National Military Park and the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Vicksburg National Military Park was moving. We were able to ride the roadway shared with cars and crossed both the North and South battle lines of the Civil War. Vicksburg was an important lifeline for the North. Per President Lincoln, Vicksburg was “the key and the war could never be brought to a close until that key was in our pocket” July 4, 1863 is when Vicksburg officially surrendered.

Two explosions ripped a large hole in the port bow causing the Cairo to quickly fill with water. Within 12 minutes, it sank to the bottom of 36 feet of water, but with no loss of life. The USS Cairo was the first armored warship in history to be sunk by an electronically detonated mine.

The Natchez Trace never disappoints. This is our third time riding another portion of the trace. Quiet roads with little traffic was a treat. We did two out and back routes – one north and another south – from the Rocky Springs Site. The countryside was a beautiful green and the trees were amazing. Oaks, pines, elms, magnolias, and others!

Next stop Hot Spring Arkansas.