There aren’t many tunnels in Mississippi. There is one very unique tunnel, though, and it’s known as Thayer’s Approach. Nestled in the Vicksburg National Military Park, the tiny tunnel might not look like much, but it was actually vital to Union forces during the Civil War.

Vicksburg National Military Park is no doubt one of Mississippi’s most renowned historical attractions.
Steve5863/TripAdvisor
Honoring soldiers who served on both sides of the Civil War, the 1,800-acre park is jam-packed with hundreds of monuments, tablets, and markers.
Ron Cogswell/Flickr
It also features 20 miles of trenches and earthworks, including Thayer’s Approach, a small tunnel named in honor of Union General John M. Thayer.
Mike Talplacido, Contributed Photo
Work on the tunnel began on May 30, 1863, after two unsuccessful attempts by the Union army to storm a Confederate fort, which was positioned at the top of the hill shown in the photo below.
Wayne Hsieh/Flickr

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No easy task, the six-foot-deep tunnel was dug out using picks and shovels.
nps.gov
When complete, the tunnel, which is officially known as an “approach trench,” would provide a safe route for the Federals to the Confederate’s fort.
Fredlyfish4/Wikimedia
General Thayer’s plot didn’t end with the approach trench, though.
Steve5863/TripAdvisor
The plan was that, once the soldiers were close enough to the Confederate fort, they’d dig a mine underneath it, pack the mine with black powder, and detonate it.
Ken Lund/Flickr
General Thayer’s plan never came to fruition, though. The mine was nearly completed when Vicksburg surrendered.
Ken Lund/Flickr

You can find more info on Thayer’s Approach as well as other points of interest in the Vicksburg National Military Park, on the NPS website.

This isn’t the only hidden historic relic in Mississippi. There’s also this antique boxcar, otherwise known as the Merci Train.

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Featured Addresses
Vicksburg National Military Park, 3201 Clay St, Vicksburg, MS 39183, USA