VICKSBURG, Miss. (WJTV) – A famous memorial at the Vicksburg National Military Park (VNMP) will soon be closed for restorations.
Starting on September 2, 2025, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin comprehensive restoration work on the Illinois Memorial. The memorial will be closed during restorations, along with some of the parking around the memorial as well. Tour road will remain open. Contractors have up to one year to complete the project.
Restoration work will consist of the following:
- Clean and treat surfaces
- Re-patinate bronze elements
- Prevent spalling caused by salt crystal expansion within the stone
Officials report the memorial developed biological growth, black lichen, efflorescence (white powdery deposits) on its stone surfaces, and has also suffered from gold-leaf loss over years, all of which diminish its visual and structural integrity.
The total cost of the project is $5,262,000. Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park (FVNMP) said the project is funded by a $2.8 million private donation from John Nau III, founding member of the Board of Directors, FVNMP, which was matched by $2.5 million in federal funding through the National Park Service’s Centennial Challenge program.
“This restoration project is a significant commitment to preserving and protecting the memorial and honoring the soldiers who served here at Vicksburg” said Acting Superintendent Ryan Groves.
Restoration will clean and treat all exposed stone surfaces and will re-patinate bronze tablets and fixtures. Officials said cleaning the stone will slow deterioration by removing efflorescence which is caused by the migration of soluble salts to the stone’s surface as moisture evaporates. These deposits pose a serious threat of spalling and damaging stone surfaces. Re-application of gold leaf to engraved lettering will restore legibility and beauty to the stone-engraved text, and re-patination of the bronze plaques and other bronze elements will remove unsightly green corrosion and will reduce the risk of eventual loss of these important historic features.
Dedicated in 1906, the Illinois Memorial features 60 bronze tablets listing more than 36,000 names of Illinois soldiers who fought in the Civil War. As an open outdoor structure, it is prone to accelerated weathering and impacts from the natural environment. Modeled after the Pantheon in Rome, it is one of the most iconic memorials in the park and serves as a key stop on the Tour Road.