A great place to learn about the barges that go up and down the Mississippi River…read more When you are in the museum, be sure to try to simulator where you get to drive a barge. If you can drive one through the locks, you may have a new career. When I tried, I wrecked my barge. Once I took the tour of the locks and dam and saw how narrow the locks actually are, I can saw why I wrecked. Tours are given at 10 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM and they're free. The views are amazing. Being 80 feet above the river, you'll love the view. Hopefully you'll be lucky enough to see a barge of a boat going through one of the locks. The Lock and Dam is not a tourist attraction that you visit just once, every time you visit, it is a different experience.

Very informative museum. Tour to the lock available for free but they don't have many tours so call…read moreand find out early. Nice view of the river.

This mile long bridge has spanned the Mississippi River since the 1920's. In 1936 it officially…read morebecame part of Rt. 66. In 1966 the bridge was closed to all traffic when Rt.270 opened nearby. It reopened in 1999 to pedestrians and bicycles as part of the Great Rivers Greenway. At one mile it's easy enough to walk from one end to the other and back again. The deck is well maintained and although the metal trusses are rusty, they are plenty sturdy. In 1929 when the bridge opened it spanned a dangerous rocky shoal which is where it gets it's name. At present the water level is too high to see the rocks. Although the original design went straight across the river, boatment complained that navigating both the nearby water towers and the bridge piers at the same time was too dangerous. The design was altered to include a turn allowing boatmen to navigate around one thing at a time. Info on the bridge states the reason for the bend is the bridge needed surer footing and has a 22° turn. The Nat'l park states a 30° turn. NPS tells one tale and the Greenway another. I'll let you be the judge: https://www.nps.gov/places/chain-of-rocks-bridge.htm We began our journey on the IL side of the bridge. Midway through the bridge are informational signs about the river. Plaques on the guardrail name donators who support the bridge upkeep. There are also two view finders, one with a handicap accessible ramp on the south side of the bridge. The IL entrance is on Chouteau Island. This island appears to have been created when a barge canal was dug. You can also access the Army Corp of Engineers dam park nearby. A motor bridge over the canal now has a bike lane making the bridge one direction at a time. Pull up close to trigger the red light to gain bridge access. The island has a trail system map at the bridge entrance. I noticed a memorial plaque and looked up the information online. If interested I have attached the wiki link to the plaque photo. A viewing platform, bicycle rack and two benches have also been added to the bridge. The MO end of the bridge has informational signs about the river and the greenway. There is also a small open air pavillion and trash bins. This bridge is listed on a number of Historic Rt.66 websites. A sign on the IL end of the bridge lists other Historic Rt.66 sites in IL. We found this site to be informational with lovely views of the MS River and you can see the Gateway Arch to the SW. Parking is in a paved lot. Walking the bridge is a nice stretch of the legs and is wheelchair accessible. Even at 22°f it was a good stop.

The NEW Chain of Rocks Bridge was built in originally constructed in 1966 to replace the OLD Chain…read moreof Rocks Bridge and to carry I-270 over the Mississippi River. It is a simple beam style bridge with no particular architectural or design elements. A NEWER New Chain of Rocks Bridge is currently being constructed by the Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation. The newer bridge is a twin span with improved safety features like wider shoulders. I think it will still be called the NEW Chain of Rovks Bridge but, personally, I think it should be called the NEWEST bridge.

We're from Texas. I surely enjoyed it and came here to just see it. Also road the unique ferry…read moreacross the two rivers. I'd recommend it to go see it and make a picnic lunch and eat it out there.

completed in 2007 the lighthouse greets the boating public arriving at the Port of Grafton. pretty…read moresure the thing lights up since there's a bulb up there, but I don't see an actual lens or reflector so I have no idea how functional it is maritimely; looks good as a nightlight thought and it could maybe help get boaters to the boat launch or something... regardless, it's such a nice backdrop for vacation pictures with the decorative metal work and fancies around it. the lighthouse sits across the lot from the Grafton Ferry and depending on how the river is running may appear to be high and dry or rising out of the waters or anywhere in between. if it looks moist use your best judgement when approaching.

There's not too much to say about this. It's a nice little square with some statues and plaques…read morethat mark the spot where Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln had their famous debate. It's well kept and interesting, and a neat place to stop on your way to somewhere else.

At the corner of Piasa and Broadway streets in Alton, lies this landmark that serves as a tribute…read moreto one of the most famous debates in U.S. history. Statues of Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln bring out a full picture of that event which took place on October 15, 1858. It was the seventh and final debate between the two men. Stephen Douglas was an incumbent Democrat who believed in state's rights, while a then-unknown Abraham Lincoln (a Whig-turned-Republican) argued that the United States can no longer survive on both slavery and free states. At the time, more than 5,000 people showed up. Lincoln lost to Douglas in the Senate race that year. He would eventually beat Douglas for the 1860 Presidency. Hopefully, you know what happened as a result of Lincoln's win. This is one of Alton's greatest historical landmarks, as one would know that the city pays great tribute to its heritage. Just outside the .25 acre square you'll find kiosks that talk about the event and how it shaped history. Also, from Thanksgiving (or last week of November) to Christmas, there is a huge Christmas tree planted between the statues. It is beautiful at night.

A beautiful building! I've been here two years in a row for the Ellis J. Shaw Day of Opportunities,…read morean educational scholarship event about postsecondary planning. This year, there were several colleges and community organizations tabling; 3 presentations about scholarship searching and financial planning; plus a panel of last year's scholarship recipients. There was SO much good information, and 4 people won $500 scholarships! This event is every November. The building is a perfect space for it, with plenty of space in the hallways for the vendors who are tabling, and seating in the council chambers for the presentations. All of the offices are closed when I've been here, because the event is on a weekend , but there is information out about upcoming events and local offerings (see picture).

Gorgeous new building! Glass and marble entrance. Truly and grand entrance. Glass walls in all…read moreoffices. Very active Parks and Recreation department.

We switched to the Jerseyville facility quite sometime ago. The personnel there was what kept us…read morecoming back. Taking a test is a very daunting experience for many of us. But the atmosphere and kindness, plus courtesy, have kept us coming back time after time. You are a special facility. So many of us pray that your concern for others always remains with your staff. Is it possible for me to call and talk with someone there? I have to take my test by Friday (Aug. 9) but I have a medical issue that I need to address. Thanks for all you do to keep our highways safe!

The one place that we all hate to go to is the DVM. I got the notice in the mail that it was time…read moreto renew my drivers license and it said I could renew mine on line. I immediately got excited that it could be that easy. Then as I read further, it said if you need a "Real ID" you'd have to go to a local office. I typically go to the one in Bethalto, IL, but heard the one in Jerseyville was less busy, so I thought I'd give them a try. It was an easy drive, about the same distance if I had gone to the one in Bethalto. There was ample parking and once inside, there was plenty of chairs to sit and wait for your number to be called. Unfortunately I arrived at 11:55 AM and there was only one associate working the counter for drivers license. My number was 45 and the next number called was 40. It was a relief to me, it then became obvious that many of the others waiting had friends with them and they all weren't waiting. As time passed, more workers came back from lunch and the numbers started to be called more quickly. When my number was called, I mentioned to the clerk what my letter said and I told be I needed the Real ID. She informed me that since I already had one, I could have done it on-line. I showed her the letter and she rolled her eyes. Typical government, did not make it clear that it was only for those needing/wanting a Real ID for the first time. Any how, I got my picture taken, took my eye test, paid my $5 fee and got a new drivers license. I was in and out within 45 minutes. I could have been out sooner, but my clerk had to help another associate with an issue and that had me waiting about 5 minutes. She should have finished my transaction, then assisted her. When it's time to re-new again in five years, I'll be back. When I got home, the notice for my plates to renewed was in the mail. That I know I can do on-line, so I am good to go.

Landmark in the middle of nowhere, that's pretty cool. There' s plenty of parking and a plaque…read morewith info that you can almost read, but may be better to bring a large piece of paper and pencil to transfer the message to easier readability. .|\---/| | o_o | .\_^_/..2021

Everywhere we go, people want to know, who we are...... We…read moreare the birds, the mighty, mighty birds....... That is part of an old high school cheer. I'm a graduate of Southwestern High School and the Piasa Bird was our mascot. So the Piasa Bird has a special place in my heart. Growing up in the area, I remember another location of the bird being painted on the bluffs. It was sit back further from the road, so this present day location is more tourist friendly. When visiting the Alton and Grafton area, it is worth a stop to view the painting and to read the legend of the mighty, mighty Piasa Bird.

One of the coolest historic river front Mainstreets closely tied to the expansion of the USA west…read more St. Charles is where Lewis and Clark last camped before their epic discovery of the Louisiana Purchase. Well preserved buildings and lively entertainment and tourism district.

Great place to find archived information about our beloved county! St. Charles was the first state…read morecapital of Missouri and the starting place of the Lewis & Clark expedition!