With the upcoming release of Tim Smith's The Real Horse Soldiers: Benjamin Grierson’s Epic 1863 Civil War Raid Through Mississippi, I have had the opportunity to research museums and sites up and down the great state of Mississippi, north to Tennessee, and south to its conclusion in Baton Rouge. As I say frequently, every day is mini-history lesson and I certainly have found some interesting MS facts along the way:
- After the Civil War, famed hat maker John B. Stetson learned and practiced his trade at Dunn's Falls near Meridian.
- Friendship Cemetery in Columbus has been called Where Flowers Healed a Nation. It was April 25, 1866, and the Civil War had been over for a year when the ladies of Columbus decided to decorate both Confederate and Union soldiers' graves with beautiful bouquets and garlands of flowers. As a direct result of this kind gesture, Americans celebrate what has come to be called Memorial Day each year, an annual observance of recognition of war dead.
- The Vicksburg National Cemetery is the second largest national cemetery in the country. Arlington National Cemetery is the largest.
- Root beer was invented in Biloxi in 1898 by Edward Adolf Barq, Sr.(obviously not CW-related, but a fun fact)
** Thanks to: Ron Collins, Greg Maxedon, Source: 'Mississippi', published by the office of the Secretary of State
I am looking forward to working with my new reseller friends in MS. If you think you have more to add to my list, please contact me.
Oh, and Go Sharks! Hockey season is finally here!!