Eleven months ago, we urged city leaders, residents and business owners along Clay Street between the Vicksburg National Military Park and the historic downtown area to get the thoroughfare as aesthetically pleasing as possible. An influx of visitors was expected for the sesquicentennial remembrance of Vicksburg’s role in the Civil War.

The war holds a unique role in the lives of Americans, who today find it hard to fathom the country came so close to permanent fracture. Historians, history buffs and just the curious will come to our city. For those traveling from the east, the most direct route downtown is straight down Clay Street. What do we want them to take away from it? How can we make Vicksburg as pristine as can be to leave positive lasting memories. A good start would be Clay Street.

On Nov. 6, 2011, this is what we had to say:

“Exit off Interstate 20 at Clay Street and it is beautiful. The park on the right, tree lined medians and modern hotels on the left. A manicured entryway into the park is inviting.

But get to Hope Street and all hope is lost. The thoroughfare is a maze of overhead wires that traverse four lanes of solid concrete. Fast food restaurants, quick-cash stores and tax preparer businesses line both sides. The looming former ParkView Regional Medical Center hovers from a nearby hillside, long having been empty. Clay Street is not very appealing to the eyes.

• Planting trees never hurts, or even erecting more attractive lighting options, much like what is seen on Clay near the park or in downtown.

• Lean on local businesses in the area to make their presentations as aesthetically pleasing as possible.

• Each of us can begin thinking of ways to make that 1.7-mile trip from park to downtown as pleasing as possible. We want visitors — but we like repeat visitors more.

Can these or similar steps be accomplished in the next 14 or so months? Indeed. The people will come. We know when they will be here. Now, we must begin preparing for their arrival.”

Now we are down to one month before the sesquicentennial year begins. Clay Street looks just as unappealing as it did, albeit with a newly designed fast food restaurant. We hope Vicksburg did not miss the boat on this opportunity. The throngs of visitors still will come, but the clock’s ticks are growing fewer and fewer. What do we want them to see?