The Vicksburg National Military Park and the Civil War Trust are looking for volunteers willing to get their hands — and maybe their clothes — dirty to help get the park ready for the summer.

The VNMP and the Civil War Trust are holding a special Park Day volunteer project April 1 to help clean and restore the Shirley House and the nearby Illinois Memorial.

“What we’ll be doing is getting the Shirley House ready so we can have some programs there, and we’ll be sweeping out the Illinois Memorial. We’ve got to get things ready for the season,” said Molly Cadwell, who is in charge of the park’s volunteer program.

“We’re encouraging people to register early so we can save time on April1,” Cadwell said. “Children under 18 will have to have permission from their parents to participate, so registering early will help that.”

People interested in registering early can do so at the park visitor center or by calling the park at 601-636-0583.

Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. in the park’s visitor center parking to register and participate in a brief orientation program before going to the Shirley House or the Illinois Memorial. The volunteers will clean up inside and outside the Shirley House and the Illinois Memorial. Once the work is complete, the volunteers will meet at the 2nd Texas Lunette for lunch.

Park Day is a hands-on preservation event created by the Civil War Trust to assist in maintaining Civil War sites. More than 130 sites in 30 states will participate April 1.