Grand Gulf Military Park

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamFebruary 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

Civil War Battlefield and Museum on the Mississippi River — Site of the April 29, 1863 Battle of Grand Gulf During the Vicksburg Campaign, Restored Fort Cobun and Fort Wade Confederate Earthworks That Repelled Admiral Porter’s Union Gunboat Fleet, Civil War Museum With Artifacts Weaponry Uniforms and Battle Documentation, Historic Confederate Cemetery, Nature Trail Along the Dramatic Mississippi River Bluffs With Panoramic River Views, Campground With Full-Hookup RV Sites and Primitive Tent Camping, Fishing Access and Boat Ramp on the Mississippi River, Near Port Gibson Claiborne County Southwestern Mississippi

Grand Gulf Military Park is a state-managed military park and Civil War battlefield on the Mississippi River near Port Gibson, Claiborne County, southwestern Mississippi, managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. The park features the site of the April 29, 1863 Battle of Grand Gulf — a major naval engagement during General Ulysses S. Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign, restored Fort Cobun and Fort Wade Confederate earthworks that successfully repelled Admiral David Porter’s Union gunboat fleet of seven warships and three transports, a Civil War museum housing authentic period artifacts including weaponry, uniforms, military equipment, and detailed battle documentation, a historic Confederate cemetery, nature trails along the dramatic Mississippi River bluffs with panoramic river views, a campground with full-hookup RV sites and primitive tent camping areas, fishing access and a boat ramp providing access to the Mississippi River, and comprehensive interpretive exhibits explaining Grand Gulf’s critical role in the Vicksburg Campaign that changed the course of the Civil War.

Grand Gulf is a critical but often overlooked piece of Civil War history — on April 29, 1863, Confederate forces at Fort Cobun and Fort Wade successfully repelled Admiral David Porter’s fleet of seven gunboats and three transports, forcing General Ulysses S. Grant to land his army downstream at Bruinsburg instead. This forced detour ultimately led to the Battle of Port Gibson and the successful Vicksburg Campaign that split the Confederacy along the Mississippi.

The restored earthworks are remarkably well-preserved — visitors can walk the same fortification lines that Confederate gunners defended under five hours of continuous naval bombardment. The museum’s collection of artifacts recovered from the battlefield brings the engagement vividly to life.

What to See

• Fort Cobun & Fort Wade — restored earthworks
• Civil War museum — artifacts, weapons, uniforms
• Mississippi River bluffs — nature trail, panoramic views
• Historic cemetery — Confederate
• Camping — full-hookup RV + tent
• Fishing — Mississippi River, boat ramp

Park Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: May 2026

Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Natchez State Park (within about an hour’s drive) and Lake Lincoln State Park (elsewhere in the state).

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to state parks and other public lands in the United States. Our editorial team compiles park profiles from official agency and operator sources and other identified references, and follows our published editorial policy and review methodology. Where a profile shows a source-check date, that date applies to the detail it names. We correct errors when we find them or when readers report them.

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