Visitors to the Vicksburg National Military Park Saturday were met with an extra bonus during their visit.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, which established a formalized way to preserve historic properties in the United States, VNMP hosted Junior Ranger Day, which included Living History demonstrations in the Shirley House, the Heritage Garden and the USS Cairo Museum.

“Hopefully this is helping people connect to the park in a new and different way,” Molly Cadwell, VNMP volunteer and outreach coordinator, said. “It’s for everyone in the park. It’s for Junior Rangers of all ages — that’s how we’ve been saying it — so anyone is welcome to do the Junior Ranger (activity) book and get the Junior Ranger badge. We’ve had a bunch of kids come in. We have hats and jackets so they can dress up as a soldier. There’s a lot to do.”

Elbert Hilliard, director emeritus of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, spoke earlier at a well-attended program, she said. People were also touring the Heritage Garden and visiting the blacksmith stationed at the USS Cairo Museum in addition to visiting the Shirley House throughout the day.

Cadwell estimated more than 200 people had visited the Shirley House, where she was stationed, by noon Saturday, and expected the number to continue to grow.

Licensed Vicksburg National Military Park guide Pat Strange, who manned the sewing station in the Shirley House, agreed the turnout was good.

“We had some school kids here this morning, and I let one of the little girls sew on a piece of lace,” Strange said. “I’ve given some dolls to take home with them.”

Yolande Robbins of the Jacqueline House brought pieces portraying African-American history in Vicksburg to the Shirley House and said both she and the visitors had been having a good time.

“I’ve had the most lovely conversations with bikers about the virtues of the blues versus the jazz,” she said. “One little girl…she was having just the most wonderful time with the cotton sack and the homemade washboard and the hair instruments and things.”

Jaynee Sindledecker of Pearl said she and her husband didn’t realize Saturday was a special day in the park.

“We’ve been wanting to take the kids for awhile and it just happened to be on this big day,” she said as her son Dylan and daughter Gracelyn wrote on chalkboard tablets in the schoolroom set up in the Shirley House.

“I’ve loved it all. I just love history,” she said after Dylan noted the cannons were his favorite part. Cadwell explained the event was made possible through a volunteer effort. “Everyone in Living History gear is a volunteer,” she said.

“I’m always about volunteers, but that’s what makes this event really cool is that we could not do without volunteers.”