USS Cairo Museum

The USS Cairo is an ironclad gunboat raised from the bottom of the Yazoo River after spending a century in the mud. Sunk by a Confederate torpedo in 1862, she is now the only surviving example of a City-class gunboat, and her preservation is remarkable — personal items belonging to the crew were found aboard, including dishes, tools, and even a comb. The museum tells the story of river warfare on the western front with well-presented artefacts.

The gunboat sits outside under a protective cover at the north end of the National Military Park. Admission is included with the park entry fee, and it is well worth the time — there is nothing quite like walking around an actual Civil War ironclad.

things to do museum historic
A story
The Cairo sank in just twelve minutes on 12 December 1862, the first warship in history sunk by an electrically detonated torpedo. She lay undiscovered in the Yazoo River mud for nearly a century, and when she was finally raised in 1964, the preservation was badly bungled — sections of the hull were left exposed to freeze and thaw. What you see today is the best that could be salvaged from an imperfect rescue.

Other places in Things to Do