“Tapestry” is designed to tap into the increasing desire among visitors to immerse themselves in history — not just view sites where events happened and look at architecture and furnishings.

The second year of Tapestry, by coincidence, kicks off today. For the next four weeks, each Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 16 local attractions will offer special presentations at specific times.

“What we’re doing is putting a bright light on history,” said Betty Bullard, vice president of the Vicksburg Bed and Breakfast Association. “We’re part of an education venue and we take that pretty seriously.”

Locations include places normally open for tours, such as The Jacqueline House African-American Museum, and places routinely open to the public.

Presentations range from guided tours of places such as the building that once was the convent for the Sisters of Mercy to demonstrations of quilting, tatting, medicines and medical tools from the Civil War era. There will be food tastings and lectures on topics ranging from the slave trade in Vicksburg to river defenses to the life of Joseph Davis, brother of the Confederate president.

Tapestry is promoted through a colorful brochure, which includes a full schedule, and can be found on the Internet at www.vicksburgcvb.org.

Carolyn Stephenson, president of the Vicksburg Bed and Breakfast Association, said that offering scheduled speakers and presentations adds depth to a visitor’s experience. “I really think we’ve made education entertaining,” she said.

The coordinated effort by the Vicksburg B&Bs dovetails with Vicksburg National Military Park re-enactments and attractions such as the Sweet Olive tour boat. All work together to make their properties more attractive to people who want more than a sightseeing experience.

The B&Bs also are increasingly collaborating with each other to share such amenities as pools and spa services.

“We have a really nice arrangement with both the country club and the municipal golf course, and that is that anyone who comes to Vicksburg as a tourist can go there and play golf and that is a huge attraction,” Bullard said. “I think it’s much more of an attraction than the typical resort swimming pool and tennis court.”

Stephenson explained that the only way to keep Vicksburg steadily growing in tourism is to work together with everyone, while constantly implementing new ways to entertain visitors.

“We work very closely with one another,” she said. “By trying to ascertain what every guest would want in a resort and stressing education, working together is the only way we can stay successful in tourism.”

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Aline Carambat is a student at the University of Mississippi.