10/03/2026
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USS Cairo (1862) was a Union Navy ironclad that served in the American Civil War. This ship sank on December 12, 1862, in the Yazoo River, Mississippi, after hitting Confederate mines while supporting Union operations around Vicksburg. The sinking of the Cairo made it one of the important warships from the early era of using ironclads and mines in river warfare.
For almost a century, Cairo remained at the bottom of the Yazoo River. The operation to locate and salvage the wreck began in 1961 and continued until 1965. During the operation, the salvage team faced significant challenges as the ship was covered in mud and situated in a difficult river environment. Between August and December 1964, the lifting process entered a crucial stage, until the bow section of the Cairo was successfully placed on the U.S. Army BG-6381 lifting barge. 🕊⚓🇺🇸
The raising of the Cairo became one of the important historic ship rescue operations in the United States. After being successfully raised, the ship underwent a conservation process to prevent further damage to its wooden and iron structures. Currently, the USS Cairo is preserved as a museum ship at Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi, serving as a physical testament to the development of naval warfare technology and the history of river campaigns during the American Civil War.
