The Vicksburg National Military Park could have an extra $90,000 available this year to spruce up monuments and tablets if a bill that passed the state Senate Tuesday wins approval in the House.

In a bill submitted by Sen. Briggs Hopson III, R-Vicksburg, the money left from a $250,000 appropriation by the state in 1995 to fund a restoration of the Mississippi Monument in the park would be available. The monument, which has been in the park since 1909, received a $1 million facelift in 2001 after 13 years of fundraising.

“This money has been made available to the state Department of Archives and History, and they’re going to work with the park and the Friends of the (Vicksburg National Military) Park (and Campaign) group to determine which monuments, markers and tablets need restoration, refurbishment or replacement,” Hopson said. 

The Vicksburg National Military Park was created by Congress in 1899, and has nearly 1,400 tablets, monuments and historical markers. It features the largest national cemetery for those who fought in the Civil War, and is one of 391 parks managed by the National Park Service.

The Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign is a nonprofit group that raises funds for park maintenance and improvements. Since forming in 2008, the group has secured about $170,000 for the park through donations and grants.

If the bill is approved in the House, it will have to be signed by Gov. Haley Barbour before it becomes law.