Vicksburg National Military Park to begin a major restoration of the Illinois Memorial

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — On September 2, 2025, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin comprehensive restoration work on the Illinois Memorial.

The memorial itself will be closed during the restoration starting on September 2. The parking area will be partially closed; however, there will still be parking spaces open to allow access to the Shirley House. The Tour Road will remain open. The contractors have up to one year to complete the project.

Work will consist of the following:

• Clean and treat surfaces
• Re-patinate bronze elements
• Prevent spalling caused by salt crystal expansion within the stone

“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.

Dedicated in 1906, the Illinois Memorial features 60 bronze tablets listing over 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.

Over the years, the memorial developed biological growth, black lichen, and efflorescence (white powdery deposits) on its stone surfaces, and has also suffered from gold-leaf loss—all of which diminish its visual and structural integrity.

Restoration will clean and treat all exposed stone surfaces and will re-patinate bronze tablets and fixtures. 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. Reapplication of gold leaf to engraved lettering will restore legibility and beauty to the stone-engraved text, and repatination 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.

The total cost of the project is $5,262,000, with $2.5 million funded by a private donation by John Nau III, founding member of the Board of Directors, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign.

For more information and updates as the project progresses: Illinois Memorial Restoration – Vicksburg National Military Park (U.S. National Park Service).