A very good interpretation/museum for this amazing lock and dam. Wander through the aisles there,…read morethen sign up for a tour of the lock and dam. The structure will blow your mind. Huge and what a feat of engineering. We were lucky to be able to watch a barge go through the lock. What a sight! An awesome ranger provided so much information and explanation of the one of 29 "steps" for boats/ barges on this 600mile portion of the Mississippi River. Fascinating!

OK folks. This is a hidden gem. "Trains, Planes & Automobiles" somehow forgot America's rivers!…read more It's hard to rate or categorize because of it's location, lack of admission fees (NOTE: PLEASE DONATE because it really is the right thing to do) & that it's not really affiliated with um say "a national park." We mapped it easy peasy, drove in no problem and nobody asked for cash, credit card or reservations. That said, I wouldn't go too far out of my way but if I were going to be traveling nearby or along this stretch of the Mississippi with my kid(s), foreigners or the historically/intellectually curious, I would budget maybe 30-60 minutes to take advantage of a well curated and informative presentation. My only regret is that our timeline didn't allow for a walking tour and demonstration of the locks in action (for which I would allow more time). Think of this as a different dimension that is not at all for people seeking a fix along the lines of Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn (while they deserve an indelible place in our country's history). If you happen to be along the way & respect the history of almost certainly the USA's most important river (especially through the lenses of ecology, development & commerce), spend some time at this museum and your understanding of the Mississippi and our great country will likely grow deeper & wider.

On the former Shurtleff College campus is the Alton Museum, which is in one of Alton's oldest…read morebuildings (185+ years old!). This is the place if you would like to know some of the history of Alton, Illinois. The museum covers Robert Wadlow, Elijah Lovejoy and notable black Americans that are from Alton. There is also a room devoted to how transportation played an important part in the city, by river and rail. Several historic items are found here, including Robert Wadlow's shoe and 3rd-grade desk. You'll also learn about the Underground Railroad as it was part of Alton. Lots of historical tidbits await the visitor. Did you know Alton is known to be where the first Civil War battle happened, and where it ended? It started with the battle over Lovejoy's printing press to Lyman Trumbell's (was a resident of Alton) co-authoring of the U.S. 13th Amendment. As much as I hate to say it, there probably won't be some people who aren't from the Metro East area who don't know much about Alton that would be interested in visiting. Do some research on Elijah Lovejoy (that is, if you didn't learn about him in school. He is a very important historical figure.) Also, if you know a lot about the streets and old buildings in downtown Alton, it would probably be a much cooler visit. I for one, didn't know much about the streets so I was a bit lost! There is usually a volunteer that will happily give you the tour. Mine was Brian (sp?) and he was very enthused about the history, and he told a few obscure stories related to Alton. It is only $5 admission for adults, and you get a discount if you are a veteran. Park in the back behind the museum and library. And as always, check the hours.

We stopped here while visiting my hometown to share local history with my wife. The museum captures…read moreAlton's rich history which ties into many significant people and events. The hosts of the museum are extremely knowledgeable about all of the displays and history of Alton. I learned so much about the history of my own hometown just visiting here for an hour! Admission is 1/2 off to military veterans.

This museum was awesome! I wasn't expecting much from this small home, but I was more than…read moreimpressed. I have never been to a museum that uses the home like it was used in its hay-day. The kitchen was remodeled in the late 1800's so they rebuilt a detached replica of the original kitchen which was the very neat. They tour guide let us touch all the utensils, cookware, and tools while she explained how they would have been used. Inside, they tore the building down to the bricks and rebuilt it exactly as it was in 1820. If you have a couple hours to explore while in Edwardsville, stop for a tour....you will be impressed.

From the owner: We are a hands-on history museum that offers a fun and unique view of life in 1820 Illinois. A…read morevariety of special events and activities are offered throughout the year as well as guided tours of the site.

Old ballroom of the hotel filled with curiosities and curated by the most interesting person on the…read moreplanet. Definitely worth the $5 to check out.

If you like planes and you like history, this is the place for you. Learn about Boeing's products,…read moresee the history, and enjoy fun facts. Did you know Marilyn Monroe was a Boeing employee?

This is a great free museum that nobody seems to be talking about! It's perfect for fans of space…read moreand aviation. Not a huge museum but they pack a lot into a small space. It's very clean, and air conditioning is always a bonus in the summer. Hours vary, so I'd call ahead and make sure it's open.

This place was so fun! Even though we were there for at least two hours with one year olds, I would…read moresay we went through half of what they had. I am itching to go back already, it is well-worth the price ($18 for both my child and I). There is a lot of outdoor activities, so I would go on a nice day, but there's plenty to do inside as well if you need a rainy-day activity. So many fun activities for children, from a racing car track to a large outdoor xylophone, a "tree house" and fun little pretend areas, such as a hospital (the nursery, of course) pizza parlor, a market stand with fake food. Outside has a lot of fun things for Littles to climb on and explore. We will definitely be back!

Sooo many thing to see and do! Had to leave but will come back to do more activities.read more

What a delightful bed and breakfast mansion complete with host in a tuxedo and amazing history! I…read morefelt right at home and absolutely loved my amazing suite complete with chandeliers in the bedroom and spa bathroom. The bed is soooo comfortable, the fireplace homey and takes any chill off on a rainy night. The jacuzzi helped ease my muscles after a long drive. I was a short drive from bakeries, restaurants and St, Louis.

We LOVE the Beall. We got married there in 2017. We've been back several times for anniversaries &…read morefor a weekend getaway. Every stay we've had was amazing. Jim & Sandy are the BEST hosts. The beds are SO comfortable, so many pillows to choose from you'll find the perfect one. Attention to details far surpassed my expectations - everything has a added touch, from the turn down service to the plush robes and bath salts Sandy makes - you won't regret choosing the Beall. The jacuzzi tub in the Senator Beall room is huge. We love little bed & breakfasts, and this is by far the best one we've been to.

We hosted our little's 2nd birthday party here and we could not be happier with how all worked out…read more I specifically chose this space as it is one big open area including play space and gathering/eating space - no private rooms = parents don't have to go in and out to supervise their young toddlers and that all the parents were able to hang out! Also, the space is just so dang cute and aesthetically pleasing! We and all of the attendees all came from the STL city area and all were surprised and impressed by the space. We chose a 9am Sunday time which was perfect for little and families, all eager to start the day early and play! As far as the party hosting goes, it was so seamless and Gabby was there early to help us set up/clean up everything. She was so helpful and efficient and also help guide us with timing of cake cutting and when it was time to start ushering people out. We brought in breakfast catering and gabby helped set up all the food/beverages that we brought in too. Completely seamless, infinitely helpful. All the kiddos had a blast and all the parents enjoyed our social gathering together. I highly recommend play street museum for private parties, without hesitation!

Wow, nice option for early play at 9 am when magic house opens later at 10 am. It is on smaller…read moreside but admission was reasonable at $13 for our son. Adults are free and infant with kid admission. Our son loved the coloring table and also each of the play stores. You get a wooden token for each kid for snack or drink when you are on way out. Nice shopping and restaurants outside here. This place requires reservation so made it before we left hotel for 9-10:30 which is about how long we spent there.