Vicksburg National Military Park Shirley House - Historic structure report

Buono, Jon

This report condenses earlier research of the Shirley House and assesses the present condition of the historic structure. It also provide recommended treatments for preservation of the Shirley House. The Shirley House is the only structure remaining from the Civil War era in the battlefield portion of Vicksburg National Military Park (VICK NMP) and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its associations with the events of 1863. The house, which was at the center of the Union battle lines, survived the 47-day siege that ended in the surrender of the city on July 4, 1863. Abandoned by the Shirley family after the siege, the house deteriorated badly until establishment of VICK NMP on February 21, 1899, and the house’s purchase from the Shirley family by the Federal government the following year. The house underwent extensive repairs and restoration in 1902, although the restoration was somewhat hampered by inadequate funding. In 1931, the house’s historic integrity was significantly diminished by an ill-considered “reconditioning” of the building by the park’s War Department superintendent, who began use of the building as a residence for himself and his family. In 1933, administration of the property was transferred to the NPS, and a comprehensive historic structure report was developed for the house in 1939. Unfortunately, no funds were available for restoration until the 1960s. In 1965-1966, the NPS produced another historic structure report that documented not only the twentieth century alterations to the building but also outlined the shortcomings of the 1902 restoration. Much of the interior was gutted in order to assess the building’s structure, but due to inadequate funding, restoration was limited to the exterior. The house has been closed to the public since that time, and the interior remains structurally unstable and devoid of many of its historic furnishings. This historic structure report was requested to coordinate and condense earlier research and to assess the present condition of the historic structure. Special attention was given to evidence of surviving historic fabric which would corroborate historical accounts and construction logs prepared during the various restoration projects.

Vicksburg National Military Park Shirley House - Historic structure report

Series