I am giving a 3-star because it is a brilliant idea, a beautiful building, and a well-maintained…read morespot but there is literally no visitor information available. I understand why they do not want the small building open but I would have assumed some outdoor brochure holders full of maps, lists of special events, or resources for how to find out more information. My first thought was that if they were worried about theft or vandalism to put up a poster in the window with a QR code on it - that way anyone with a smart phone (so, the majority of Americans at this point) could at least be directed to online resources (especially maps). We watched an amazing team of older women (presumably volunteers) lovingly decorate the spot for Christmas but this does make me think that digital support may not be on their radar. I would love to see the development of online scavenger hunts or other interactive tools. They could be created and maintained with little to no effort. I was here almost a year ago as well so I know that the lack of visitor materials is a pattern. I really hope to see this change and am looking forward to the growth of this AMAZING spot!

Nice reception and patience answered all questions in a timely manner and clear. I would recommend…read morethem as far as going to an office that is close to Cairo Illinois

Driving past, the sign mentioned "Thebes Historic Courthouse" and it rang a loud bell in my mind…read morebut I could not remember why this courthouse was so important. And so I made the turn to check it out. Completed in 1848, the courthouse is in the Southern Greek Revival style and the view from the porch of the famous Thebes Bridge (reviewed separately) and the Mighty Mississippi River (also reviewed separately) is tremendous. Inside, this classic structure are two hundred years of history, artifacts, photographs and some very helpful and friendly ladies who are more than happy to talk. Abraham Lincoln visited the courthouse when he was a frontier lawyer. One of the more infamous Supreme Court cases began its journey here when fugitive slave Dred Scott was imprisoned in the courthouse dungeon. Yeah, that Dred Scott and the ruling from SCOTUS in 1857 was that the US Constitution did not extend American citizenship to people of black African descent. This was thankfully overturned by the Civil War and the Fourteenth Amendment. [Review 1247 of 2024 - 201 in Illinois - 22270 overall]

In Sept 2015, Noel, Tony and I started on a road trip with Sammi from Nashville TN to Skull, KS. On…read morethe way, we saw this sign for a Historical Courthouse overlooking the Mississippi River. So we had to stop. This courthouse is had something to do with the very important Dredd Scott trial. The courthouse was closed but I got some really great photos of the courthouse. It had a great location on the Mississippi River. There is nothing left of this important River Port Town..but I just wonder what it all looked like? Sitting high atop a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in Thebes, Illinois is the 1848 Courthouse. Standing 165 years, it is a testament to architect Henry Ernst Barkhausen, who was awarded the contract for designing and supervising the erection of the Thebes Courthouse in 1845. This landmark was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

This bridge is a two-span tiered arch bridge that carries I-24 across the Ohio River. It joins the…read morecommunities of Metropolis Illinois with Paducah Kentucky. There are four lanes of traffic - two in each direction. The largest span is the southern one at 730 feet with the smaller northern span only 630 feet. The total length of the bridge is 5632 feet and you can get a good look at it from the boat ramp area at nearby Fort Massac State Park. As one might expect for a bridge over a major waterway that also carries a major roadway, there is no breakdown lane and no pedestrian lane. If you break down here, you need to continue onwards until you're off the bridge. [Review 16302 overall - round number 100 in Illinois - 1808 of 2021.]

this artless bridge carrying I-24 across the Ohio River was named to honor the two guys most…read moreresponsible for its existence. a small plaque mentioning this is at the rest area a mile north near Metropolis. local gossip considers it a significant improvement over the taller and scarier Irvin S Cobb bridge heading into Paducah KY from Brookport about four miles up river - that one is two-way traffic on an open-grid metal deck.

Everything went smoothly and efficiently! The Staff are…read morepersonable and answered all our questions very professionally.

I was there 15 min max. Not waiting, I never had a chance to sit down before I was called/ I mean…read more15 min from the time I entered and left. With that said, I am used to sitting for hours at the DMV. The customer service was excellent. I really forgot how Southern Hospitality was in the south. Everyone was smiling and greeted he "hello" and "goodbye."

Part of Cairo's Millionaire's Row, this is one of a few gems in an otherwise collapsing city. There…read moreis some construction here so the structure itself was closed. I would hope that is it restoration work to save this fabulous home. [Review 1243 of 2024 - 198 in Illinois - 22266 overall]

We stopped by the Scott County Historical Marker in Benton, Missouri, while we were on our West…read moreCoast trip. We started our trip by traveling through several towns in Missouri, so it was fun getting off the main roads and checking out some of the local history along the way. The marker is located right in front of the Scott County Courthouse and gives you a really interesting look at the history of the area, including the organization of Scott County in 1821 and the early history of Benton. It also talks about the old King's Highway, Native American history, early settlers, and the development of the communities in the area. I always enjoy finding historical markers when we travel because they give you a reason to slow down for a few minutes and learn something about the place you're visiting. This was a quick stop, but it was definitely worth it and gave us a little more appreciation for the history of Benton and Scott County. If you're traveling through the area and enjoy local history, I'd recommend stopping by and taking a few minutes to read it. It was a neat little stop during the beginning of our trip through Missouri!

This marker stands proudly on the grounds of the Scott County Courthouse in Benton and provides a…read moredeep history. It has the same text and continues across both sides. It reads, "The second county formed in Missouri's famed Southeast Lowland Region, Scott was organized 1821, and named for John Scott, the State's first Congressman. Southerners were first settlers on Spanish land grants in the late 1790's. The King's Highway (El Camino Real), laid out in 1789, crossed the county which lies in the territory claimed by Osage tribes until 1808. The Delaware and Shawnee roamed the area into the 1820's. "Benton, the county seat, laid out in 1822, is named for Thomas Hart Benton, one of Missouri's first U.S. Senators. From 1864-78 the county seat was located at Commerce, a town laid out 1823 on Mississippi River. Long known as Tywappity, the townsite was a trading post and river landing by 1803. There was formed the first Baptist Church in what is now Missouri, 1805. "New Hamburg, third town in the county, was settled by German immigrants in the 1840's. In St. Lawrence Catholic churchyard there is their first log church. Sikeston, the county's fourth and largest town, settled in 1800, was laid out in 1860, by John Sikes on the Cairo & Fulton R.R. (Mo. Pac.). "Scott County, cotton, soybean, melon, and grain producer, lies between the Mississippi and Little River District drainage ditches, one of largest drainage systems in the U.S., established 1905. Crowley's Ridge, remnant of an old coastal plain, crosses the county. "The county, devastated by guerrilla raids during the Civil War, grew rapidly from the 1870's to the early 1900's as its dense forests were lumbered off and numerous railroads were built. Towns founded in this period are Diehlstadt, Morley, Oran, Perkins, Blodgett, Crowder, Vanduser, Illmo, Fornfelt (Scott City), Chaffee, Ancell, and Kelso. The Thebes Mississippi River railroad bridge at Illmo dates from 1905. Near there is Cape St. Croix, a rock island in the river where Father De Montigny erected a cross, 1699. Near Morley is the grave of Nathaniel W. Watkins, State legislator, Gen. Missouri State Guards, half-brother of Henry Clay. In the county for a time, lived Wilson Brown, 9th Lt. Gov. of Mo., and noted early legislators Joseph Hunter II and Abraham Hunter. Rezin Bowie, brother of James, was Syndic of Tywappity settlement before 1800." The marker was erected in 1961 by the Missouri State Historical Society of Missouri Scott County and State Highway Commission. There is ample parking along Winchester. [Review 1154 of 2026 - 591 in Missouri - 26333 overall]

Crossing from Kentucky into Missouri, you'll spend all of 1000 feet in Illinois between the two…read morebridges. Or you can continue north into southern Illinois if that's your preference. This bridge is two lanes wide with a simple double-yellow line between them. There is a low wall on each side and there is no pedestrian or breakdown lane. The bridge did get a rehabilitation in 2005 and there is now a 15 ton weight limit on the bridge in an attempt to extend its lifespan. It's been closed a couple of times for repair and inspection. The other bridge is the Cairo Ohio River Bridge https://www.yelp.com/biz/cairo-ohio-river-bridge-wickliffe but this one is the Cairo MISSISSIPPI River Bridge. It runs north to south carrying US Route 60 and US Route 62 across the Mississippi River. It joins the communities of Cairo Illinois to Bird's Point, Missouri. The bridge is 5175.5 feet long with a main span of 700.9 feet. It has a clearance of 114 feet above the river. The bridge opened in 1929 as a toll bridge. The toll was removed in 1954. As an alternative, you can bypass to the west and cross on the I-57 bridge https://www.yelp.com/biz/i-57-bridge-cairo which also does not have a toll. [Review 287 of 2025 - 220 in Illinois - 23850 overall]