VICKSBURG, Miss. (WJTV) – The Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park announced a $2.8 million private donation to the Vicksburg National Military Park (VNMP) for battlefield restoration efforts.

The gift will be matched by $2.5 million in federal funding through the National Park Service’s Centennial Challenge program, resulting in a total investment of $5.3 million.

According to Friends of the VNMP, the heart of the project includes a full restoration of the Illinois Memorial. Over a century of weather exposure has caused deterioration to both the stone and the inscriptions inside.

The project will also remove a post-war building that was erroneously constructed on core battlefield ground.

“Standing on restored battlefield ground gives visitors a chance to truly understand the story of Vicksburg-not just read about it, but feel it,” said Bess Averett, executive director of the Friends of the VNMP. “Visitors deserve to walk this hallowed ground and see it as Union and Confederate soldiers saw it during the siege. Every tree, ravine, and ridge matters. Battlefield restoration brings clarity to the chaos of war and deepens our understanding of one of the most pivotal moments in American history. Thanks to the generosity of our donor, John Nau III, and the partnership of the National Park Service, we are reclaiming this hallowed ground and restoring one of the most significant monuments in the country.”

According to officials, the restoration of the Illinois monument will begin by the end of Summer 2025. The work is expected to take about a year, and the monument will be closed to the public during the restoration work.