Day Eighty Seven: Inconsistencies

At Alex's suggestion, I explored Vicksburg, MS. I wasn't sure what to expect as it has been years since I learned about Vicksburg and its importance during the Civil War so I was excited to learn more. When I arrived at the battlefield, I was surprised to learn that there was an entrance fee. Growing up in Virginia, I had several battlefields within 30 minutes of my house. I also recently visited Gettysburg's battlefield (thank you Alex) and none of these battlefields have an entrance fee. Luckily, I was able to use the National Parks pass that we purchased towards the beginning of this trip, but this has left an odd taste in my mouth. If Gettysburg and Vicksburg are both considered national battlefields, why does only one have an entrance fee? How and why did the federal government determine Vicksburg should get an entrance fee but not the probably more visited Gettysburg?

Though part of the visitor's center was under construction, I was able to watch their film about Vicksburg and the role it played in the Civil War. With a good refresher of how the well fortified location was able to stand strong against Union soldiers, I got in my car and did most of the "auto tour". This road snakes around the battlefield lines with monuments for the fallen soldiers. I made my way to overlooks of the Mississippi River and even to a cemetery. On the grounds there was at least one private home which looks currently lived in and it made me think of how that is possible and what kind of a weird neighborhood that would be to live in. It looks like there are back entrances to the park and I wonder how many people know about them and avoid paying the park entrance fee altogether?