Creaky attics, old cellars and more are the focus of the first annual Hidden Vicksburg event hosted by the Vicksburg Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in collaboration with the Vicksburg Historical Society (VHS). The event is set for Saturday, August 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour begins at the Vicksburg Community Center, 101 S. Main St. It will include a presentation on the “Hidden Secrets of Vicksburg’s Past” by VHS historian Maggie Snyder at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and tours of some of Vicksburg’s oldest buildings, including the old McElvain Hotel, Vicksburg fire station and historic jail and J.F. Follmer Hardware Store.
Participants will receive a punch card to visit all eight buildings where a guide will provide a costumed tour of the building complete with the site’s history and a souvenir tour guide of their expedition into the past with a map, tour listing and historic photos. Tickets are $10 per person, with children 4 and under free. They can be purchased online at http://www.vicksburgdda.com/hidden-vicksburg, at the Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center, 200 S. Main St., and will also be available during the event at the Community Center while tickets last.
During the tour you will see how some of the upper stories have been converted into loft apartments and some that haven’t seen light in decades. The goal of the event is to create awareness of Vicksburg’s historical contribution in Kalamazoo County, attract visitors and to serve as a fundraiser for the DDA’s façade improvement fund and provide operating support for the Historical Society. Unearth the hidden secrets that lie in the bricks and streets of Vicksburg while you explore mysteries of the past.
The Vicksburg DDA is an economic development organization that promotes and embraces Vicksburg’s rich heritage by showcasing unique boutiques in historic storefronts and offers dining, event and entertainment experiences to enhance quality of life opportunities in the region. For more information visit the website VicksburgDDA.com.