The house at 1018 Crawford Street served as the headquarters of Confederate General John C. Pemberton during the siege of Vicksburg. It was here that Pemberton decided to surrender the city on 4 July 1863 rather than attempt to break out — a decision that effectively split the Confederacy and turned the war. The Greek Revival house, also known as the Willis-Cowan House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The house is privately owned but visible from the street and marked with a historical plaque. Walking this part of Crawford Street gives a sense of the residential character of antebellum Vicksburg, with several other historic houses nearby.