This bridge carries I-57 over the Mississippi between Missouri and Illinois. It is a steel truss…read morearch bridge with four lanes (two in each direction). It is 107 feet above the river. This is one of three bridges in the area that cross the Mississippi or the Ohio in Southern Illinois. There is a small sign to indicate the state line in each direction. There is no pedestrian lane and no breakdown lane. The edge of the lane is only about 12 inches from the barrier. If you get stuck here, you're going to be blocking traffic. There is a huge difference in firearm laws between the two states. I stopped just before the bridge, removed my concealed carry gun from the holder, unloaded it, locked it in the case, and put it in the trunk. Sigh. [Review 16296 overall - 96 in Illinois - 1802 of 2021.]

Commanding a view over downtown Cape GIrardeau, this beautiful structure was completed in 1854 (and…read moresurvived the Civil War!) designed in the Federal style. It is two stories and includes a hipped roof and cupola. On a Sunday afternoon, the building was locked and secured so no opportunity to tour the inside. The outside, however, is stunning including the stairway down to the riverside neighborhood, the fabulous fountain (dedicated in 1911 in memory of the soldiers of the Civil War) and the bandstand. The bandstand had a couple of folks enjoying the power outlets and a nap. It's quite the structure and well worth a stop. [Review 1253 of 2024 - 355 in Missouri - 22276 overall]

Very efficient service here. You can go to either the Cape or Jackson location to get your tax…read morewaiver. This was my first time at the Cape office and was well served. When you move to Missouri, you are subject to an annual personal property tax. To register your car in Missouri, you obtain a waiver so that you are not subject to pay personal property fees until you have lived in the state through the calendar year. The Cape office is on Lorimer Street to the right of the courthouse. Very efficient and friendly staff.

More of a piece of art than a bridge, the Thebes Bridge crosses the Mississippi River and joins…read moreIllmo Missouri with Thebes Illinois. It is owned by a subsidiary of the Union Pacific company and it was designed by Ralph Modjeski (1861 to 1940) who is responsible for some forty major bridges including the Huey P. Long Bridge near New Orleans, the Ben Franklin Bridge (Philadelphia) and the international Blue Water Bridge (Port Huron Michigan and Point Edward Ontario). The bridge took three years to complete, somewhat delayed by legal proceedings with the right of way. It completed in 1905 with a total length of 3959 feet. It's worth noting that the Thebes Bridge is a "continuous truss bridge" that is very similar to the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Though it seems that the piers are better protected here. Truly a work of art. [Round number review 200 in Illinois - 1246 of 2024 - 22269 overall]

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]

Under renovation but always a nice place for a little side trip…read more Great history lessons when staff on site

Sept 2015, Tony, Noel and I along with our doggie Sammi, went to several State Parks in Missouri…read moreand we stopped at Bollinger Mill State Historic Site to check out the old grist mill and the Burfordville Covered Bridge. The park is FREE to enjoy. The parking lot is full of trees and gravel and makes for a nice shaded area. There are picnic tables and NO grills but you can bring a picnic basket with food in it. We walked around the grist mill and the Covered bridge. It is a very lovely park and easy to find once you put in the GPS information. History of the Bollinger Grist Mill. The Bollinger Mill State Historic Site is a state-owned property preserving a mill and covered bridge that pre-date the American Civil War in Burfordville, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. The park was established in 1967 and offers mill tours and picnicking. It is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Mill History: In 1797, George Frederick Bollinger received a land grant from the Spanish Government and moved with several other families from North Carolina to what is now Burfordville, Missouri.[4] In 1800, Bollinger began building a log dam and mill on the Whitewater River. In 1825, Bollinger rebuilt the mill and dam using limestone. After Bollinger's death in 1842, his daughter Sarah Daugherty and her sons continued to operate the mill until the Civil War, when the mill was burned by the Union army in order to prevent the supply of flour and meal to the Confederate army. Following the war, the mill site was sold to Solomon R. Burford. The current four-story brick mill was completed by Burford in 1867 and is built upon the limestone foundation of the 1825 building. Burford owned the mill until 1897, when the Cape County Milling Company took over operations and continued operating the mill until 1953 when the mill was sold to the Vandivort family, relatives of George Bollinger. The mill was donated to the Cape Girardeau County Historical Society in 1961 and to the State of Missouri in 1967.[3] Three years later, the mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places

The wall's primary purpose is to hold back the flood waters of the mighty Mississippi River, which…read morefloods often. Most recently (Jan. 2016) the river crested over flood stage (32 feet) at 48.86 feet, which was pretty close to the top of the wall which is 53 feet high. The wall spans 500 feet and is covered with murals painted by various artists depicting the lives of 45 famous people who were born in Missouri or achieved fame while living there. Great way to take in some history as you stroll and so much better than a plan ole wall!

Great day to see the Missouri Wall Of Fame In Cape Girardeau, MO. Only 12 degrees and still worth…read morethe New Years Day drive! Ice on the Mississippi and the art on the wall to enjoy. Amazing artwork and history. Perfect for a nice long walk to enjoy!

Most tunnels have just one function - they allow traffic to go under a mountain or hill as an…read morealternative to going over the mountain or cutting a big gap in it. Expensive to build and maintain. So to find this tunnel in Cairo that provides a dual function was special. Yes, it takes US-51 under the Canadian National Railroad line, the tunnel was also built to function as a flood control gate, protecting downtown Cairo from the Ohio River. It is a riveted steel plate floodgate that operates as a counterweighted structure that was originally designed to be lowered into place during floods. The flood gate was built by Stupp Brothers Bridge and Iron Company of St. Louis, Missouri. No longer used, it has been replaced by modular flood control gates that are stored off-site which would be inserted into a slot into the abutment of another nearby bridge in the event of a major flood today. Clever engineering. [Review 1244 of 2024 - 199 in Illinois - 22267 overall]

After enjoying two beers at nearby Many Good Things Brewing, I walked a bit along the riverside. No…read morebarges passing this time but it was still an amazing view that goes north around the bend and south to see the beautiful Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. Some seating here and a few captions, don't miss the "high water" marks on the floodwall. Holy smokes! [Review 1252 of 2024 - 354 in Missouri - 22275 overall]