An Architectural Work of Art

One of the most prominent landmarks in Vicksburg is the towering slate steeple of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

Built between 1869 and 1880, the church contains 34 stained glass windows, six of which were designed by Louis Tiffany of New York. Holy Trinity also houses the only known set of stained glass windows honoring the deceased of both the North and the South. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

I was downtown yesterday and had my cameras with me, so I decided to capture some of the truly amazing architectural details of this magnificent old church. The sky was a brilliant blue and it was a perfect backdrop for my pictures.

I actually began my photo shoot at the back of the church, which you can see is as beautiful as its more-photographed front.

You can click on the pictures if you would like to get a closer view of the artistry and intensive labor that went into building the church.

Can you imagine the skill involved in building those parapets ... especially while being suspended that high off the ground!

And speaking of "high off the ground," it not only took the skills of master craftsmen, but also the courage of a superhero to build the awe-inspiring steeple which rises several hundred feet high. It is truly a work of art.

To put the sheer size of the steeple into perspective, this is a picture I took (with a zoom lens) of the steeple a couple of years ago. I was standing on a hill several blocks away from the church, and you can see the clock tower of the old courthouse in the background.

I also discovered this beautiful
little door at the back of the church.

Do you notice anything odd about it? There's no doorknob!

I've always been in awe of the beauty of this magnificent church, but seeing it up close through the lens of my camera made me appreciate it even more ... especially the vision of its architect and the skill and labor that went into making it a reality. Everywhere I looked I saw individual works of art, that when put together like a puzzle, create one of the most beautiful churches in the South. I've never been inside the church, but I'm sure the inside is even more breathtaking than the exterior.

Lagniappe for the day: This old stained glass window is in a building next door to the church. I'm not sure if it belongs to the church or not, but I couldn't resist capturing it with my camera, too.

A Photo Tour of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Part I

The City of Vicksburg, Mississippi, perched high on the bluffs of the picturesque Mississippi River, is a beautiful southern town, and is literally a treasure trove of photographs just waiting to be taken.

I am blessed to live in Vicksburg, and one of my favorite pastimes is driving around town with my camera and stopping when I see something that catches my eye. Yesterday was a beautiful fall day, with a brilliant blue sky and bright sunshine ... a perfect day to venture out in hopes of capturing some of the beauty and charm of Vicksburg through my camera lens. The only problem is that everywhere you look there are historical landmarks, architectural works of art, monuments, elegant antebellum homes, and beautiful old "turn of the century" homes.

With so many wonderful places and things waiting for me and my camera, I was like "a kid in a candy store." But this kid had a plan. I want to share with you, through my pictures, why I love living in Vicksburg.

My adventure began on Washington Street in downtown Vicksburg.

This is the Biedenharn Candy Company, where
Coca Cola was first bottled in 1894 ...

These bikers chose a gorgeous day to tour Vicksburg ...

Downtown Vicksburg is very hilly and some of the old historical buildings and churches can be seen from miles away. I love these steeples poking through the treetops ...

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
The Old Courthouse Dome, which is blocks
away, can be seen behind the steeple.

First Presbyterian Church
St. Paul Catholic Church

First Baptist Church of Vicksburg

My next stop was this pretty boulevard
which is a couple of blocks from downtown.

There's a rose garden in the boulevard
and I stopped to smell these beauties ...

I love flags and thought these were
pretty against the church in the background ...

Here's another boulevard with a beautiful statue (you can see the
old Court House, which is blocks away, in the background) ...

I used my telephoto lens to capture this picture of the statue, with the Court House in the background, and was delighted with the results ...

My next stop was the Old Court House Museum, which you've seen in the backgrounds of several of my pictures.

The Old Court House, built in 1858, stands today as Vicksburg’s most historic structure, and is home to Confederate flags (including one that was never surrendered), the tie worn by Jefferson Davis at his inauguration as Confederate President, fine portraits, china and silver, exquisite antique furniture, the trophy antlers won by the steamboat Robert E. Lee in an 1870 race, antebellum clothing, toys, Indian and pioneer implements, and an original Teddy Bear given to a local child by Theodore Roosevelt. If you ever visit Vicksburg, the museum is a "must see," and I hope to feature it in a post soon, if I can get permission.

Notice the moon in the upper left corner of this picture ...

After I left the courthouse museum, I didn't have to drive far to find more treasures, such as the elegant Vicksburg City Hall, which was built in 1903 ...

I love the detailing around this window ...

This beautiful old building houses the Holy Cross Anglican Church ...

Here are a couple of close up views of the architectural details ...

Another architectural wonder is
the old downtown post office ...
Click on the pictures if you'd like to see the detailing up close ...

Unfortunately, the old post office building has been closed and I regret that I never went in it. I'm sure it was just as beautiful inside.

This beautiful old building was constructed
in 1894, and houses the Mississippi River Commission ...

I love these graceful fleur de lis finials on top ...

I have several more pictures I want to share, and will continue my "tour" in Part II. I hope you will join me ... but until then, I invite you to read some previous posts I've written about Vicksburg: A National Treasure: Vicksburg Military Park, The Gates of Vicksburg, The Monuments of Cedar Hill, and In the Arms of the Angels.

In closing, here are a few random pictures
from the streets of Vicksburg ...


The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad Depot



Belle of the Bends, CA 1876 ...

Cedar Grove, CA 1852 ...

The Bridges of Vicksburg ...