The U.S.S. Cairo was one of seven ironclad gunboats named in honor of towns along the upper Mississippi and Ohio rivers. These powerful ironclads were formidable vessels, each mounting thirteen big guns (cannon). On them rested in large part, Northern hopes to regain control of the lower Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two. Info taken from http://www.nps.gov/archive/vick/sitemap. htm Info taken from http://www.nps.gov/archive/vick/sitemap. htm This is where the tour ends for us! We were stopped by a Tornado! Due to downed power lines and trees we were escorted out of the park and unhappily the park was still closed the next day. Hopefully we will return to finish the tour.