—Vicksburg Heritage Walking Trail —

Magruder-Morrissey House

Since Union prisoners were housed next door at the Warren County Jail, the house suffered only minor damage from Union bombing during the siege. Tom Morrissey, a creative entrepreneur, purchased this home in 1907. When Mississippi became the first "dry" state in 1918, Tom set up a saloon on a barge across the river in Louisiana. Vicksburgers could take a short boat ride to his saloon and continue to purchase alcohol.

River Commerce Hub

Captain Tom Morrissey acquired the beautiful steamboat "Belle of the Bends" when its owner failed to repay the debt after using the boat for collateral. Morrissey, a leader in river commerce, owned six steamboats that delivered goods to towns from New Orleans to Memphis along the Mississippi River. During this time Vicksburg was the largest city in the state and was a key transportation hub.

President Theodore Roosevelt

In 1902 President Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Vicksburg on the "Belle of the Bends" for his famous bear hunt at Onward, Mississippi. The iconic American children's toy, the Teddy Bear, was named from the outcome of this famous hunt. Roosevelt's hunting guide, Holt Collier, was born a slave, later became a Confederate cavalryman, and had killed over 3,000 bears in his life!



He was chosen because of his expertise in hunting in the dangerous swamps of the Mississippi Delta. Collier later said when speaking about the President, "he was safer with me than with all the policemen in Washington"!

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Show me all markers in:  Vicksburg, MS  |  Warren County  |  39183  |  Mississippi  |  United States of America

Featherston-Magruder House
The Daily Citizen
Hard Times Square
Old Natchez District
South Central Bell
Vicksburg
Men of Kindness
Mississippi Dental Association
Mississippi Dental Association
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