Rich history, authenticity and preservation are elements 32 travel writers say they will go home and pen about Vicksburg and the area after three days of tours.

“Vicksburg seems almost raw, almost fledgling,” said Karen Rubin, New York-based writer for the Travel Features Syndicate. “You have so much that’s genuine. I see the restoration and the preservation and that’s so important. You have such a good core of people who respect that about your history.”

And then there are the camels — two of them were visiting the Vicksburg National Military Park Tuesday and today, demonstrating through this afternoon the role the mammals had during the Siege of Vicksburg 150 years ago.

“I think, probably, a lot of people have misconceptions about Mississippi. I know I did,” said Jaimie Hall Bruzenak of Pine, Ariz., who writes for Road Trip America, for people who sightsee in RVs. “But everything has been a pleasant surprise. It’s a beautiful state. The history is fascinating.

“The Ruins of Windsor were very impressive,” she said.

Rubin, Bruzenak and 30 other travel writers since Sunday have toured the Town of Port Gibson, including Windsor in Claiborne County, the Town of Raymond and Vicksburg. They were to leave this afternoon following a reception at which actor Larry Clowers was to portray Ulysses S. Grant in a program on the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War.

On Tuesday, the writers toured Vicksburg via bus. One of the stops was Cedar Hill Cemetery, where they walked through Soldiers’ Rest, the burial ground for Confederate soldiers who fell during the siege.

Through a National Park Service Preserve America grant to the City of Vicksburg, the group also toured the military park, Riverfront Murals, Washington Street and the historic area around Main Street in Vicksburg, the Civil War battlefield in Raymond and churches and buildings in Port Gibson.

New Jersey writer and literary agent Sheree Bykofsky marveled at the rich history, then said she is worried by disintegration in parts of the state.

“I love charming small towns, but I have to be honest, I was sad to see the fact that they have seen better days,” she said. “I would like to do my part and help. I will tell my readers that they can find unique, authentic U.S. experience here. Now is the time to gather and save our history.”

At least one of the writers felt the trip was not long enough, but said she would return. Bruzenak, and her husband, a photographer, said they have extended their trip and will be touring more of Mississippi in the next 10 days.

“There is more history in this little area than any other,” George Bruzenak said. “One of the things we’ll bring out is how important the (Union) victory in Vicksburg was to the ending of the Civil War. There’s a ton of history here.”