The Old Courthouse stands on a prominent hill above the city and served as the visual and symbolic heart of Vicksburg through the siege. Built in 1858, it is one of the finest antebellum courthouses in Mississippi, with a columned portico and a distinctive octagonal cupola visible from the river. Today it houses a good local history museum with Civil War artefacts, Confederate memorabilia, and exhibits on Vicksburg's Jewish community, which was substantial in the 19th century.
The building was used as a prison for Union soldiers during the early part of the war. The views from the courthouse hill over the city and the river are excellent. The museum is independently operated and well worth the small admission fee.