A nonprofit is working to reopen what it calls Mississippi's most-visited cultural attraction: the Vicksburg National Military Park.

This marks the second time the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign has stepped up to help keep the park open during a government shutdown.

During last government shutdown, which began in Dec. 2018, the nonprofit gave the federal government $2,000 a day which covered some utility and operational expenses as well as salaries for seven employees.

"For us it is primarily and first and foremost an issue of protection of the park," said Bess Averett, the group's executive director. "During shutdowns or times when the park is not staffed, it's really vulnerable to vandalism and relic hunters."

Averett also said the park is a tourism destination, and many other local business rely on those visitors.

Averett is currently working to form an operating agreement with the National Park Service and hopes to have the park reopened Thursday morning.

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