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.

Just north of Thebes along Route 3 and parallel to the Mississippi River, this small park has a…read morehistorical marker and the parking available to appreciate it. You can also access the river from here for a fabulous view. The marker reads, "In 1817 the Zebulon M. Pike reached St. Louis, the northern-most steamboat port on the Mississippi River. The western steamboat of later years was a credit to the frontier American mechanic who drew upon experience to build a large craft (eventually over 300 by 40 feet) which would carry heavy cargoes in shallow water against the strong Mississippi current. Owners boasted that steamboats could run on heavy dew, but in fact seasonal variations in river depth limited their use - medium sized steamboats needed at least four feet of water. The influence of the steamboat spread far and wide in the Mississippi Valley and hastened the development of the region. "Snags, explosions, collisions and fires sank many steamboats. An 1867 investigation recorded 133 sunken hulks in the Mississippi between Cairo and St. Louis, a stretch rivermen called the 'Graveyard.' "Even as the north-south river trade flourished in the 1850's transportation lines running east and west developed. Railroads, which followed a more direct route than winding rivers, began to haul freight to and from the Mississippi valley. Steamboats aided the North in the Civil War, but the reorientation of civilian commerce foreshadowed their decline. Although they continued to churn the Mississippi for the rest of the nineteenth century, they were eventually replaced by strings of barges guided by a single steamboat or later by a diesel boat which transported the cargoes individual steamboats had once carried." The marker was erected in 1986 by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Historical Society. [Review 1248 of 2024 - 202 in Illinois - 22271 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]

I love love love cable-stayed bridges and the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge is an example of why…read more It's just beautiful. With two tall H-shaped piers similar to the Quincy Bayview Bridge (Illinois), the Great River Bridge (Iowa) and the Cochrane USA Bridge (Alabama). This one is named for a Missouri politician who served as a US Representative from 1981 to 1996, it was completed in 2003 and has 60 feet of clearance below to the Mississippi River. It carries four lanes of Route 34 and Route 74 and IL 146 between East Cape Girardeau Illinois and Cape Girardeau Missouri. The bridge replaced the old Cape Girardeau Bridge which was adjacent until it was demolished in 2004. There is no toll to cross the bridge. [Review 1249 of 2024 - 351 in Missouri - 22272 overall]

How does one review a bridge?…read more From Wikipedia: "The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge connecting Missouri's Route 34 and Route 74 with Illinois Route 146 across the Mississippi River between Cape Girardeau, Missouri and East Cape Girardeau, Illinois." It seems Bill Emerson was a Missouri representative from the 80s and 90s. I'm not exactly sure what he did that earned him a commemorative bridge, but like all things, a rudimentary Google search will probably yield all the information you can handle or desire. At nearly 4000 feet long, and four lanes wide, this is a pretty big bridge, and certainly a feat of engineering. Perhaps more interesting for us SoCal folk was crossing the Mississippi River, which any third-grader can tell you is the largest river in North America. Also of note as far as we were concerned, the bridge signified that we were only 5 miles from our destination for the evening, Jackson Missouri... Where our air-conditioned hotel room provided a welcome respite from the Missouri summer of heat and humidity. If you like bridges, come check this one out. It's no Golden Gate in SF, it's no Yangpu bridge in Shanghai, heck, it's not even a Coronado Street bridge from San Diego, but when you consider the alternative methods of crossing the mighty Mississippi just 100 years ago, you come to appreciate little things like this, that so many of us take for granted.

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!

I'm sad that I was here on a Sunday afternoon and did not have a chance to properly tour the…read moreinterior of this beautiful home. It's clear that this is a leftover from better days in Cairo, a city that has fallen into deep disrepair like a shopping mall with no tenants. The outside is stunning with well kept grounds including the small gazebo and the brick paths. Even if it's closed for the day, it's still well worth a good walk around. [Review 1242 of 2024 - 197 in Illinois - 22265 overall]

I saw this place on the map and was looking for something to do it was awesome. The tour guide is…read moreso sweet and knowledgeable. He really cares about his job. There's so much to see there. If you have a chance and you like old homes this is a must see. The $8 fee is well worth the money. They were just taking down there Christmas decorations but the place was still impressive. If you can give a call before you go in case he's out that would be great because you don't wanna miss this house.

" Loved This Old School Site "…read more Being in Education for 35 years I really enjoyed walking through the Historic Higgerson School in New Madrid, MO. The school was restored to the one-room school that operated at Higgerson Landing in 1948. The Higgerson School is a window to the educational practices that shaped and served rural America from the early 19th century. Nice School !

It's a great little Museum, also an Amtrak station. Wonderful folks are working there; it's also a…read morehistoric train depot.

I've only been once, and briefly, but the neatness of the facility, the amount of historical…read moreartifacts (antique clothing, farm equipment, and more), the helpfulness of the staff and the holdings they have will bring me back sometime soon.

One of the little-known roadside attractions in southern Illinois is the Popeye Statue! If you…read morehaven't been to Chester, you'll find out right away that the creator of the Popeye character, E.C. Segar, was born and raised there. The river town has several tributes to the man. In addition, there are at least 8 other statues of Popeye characters around Chester. Be sure to check out the Visitors Center (if open) and get information on the history of Segar, as well as the locations for all of the other statues. The statue is located just as you are coming off the Mississippi River (Northeast direction), so its kind of oddly placed in front of the woods. But you and the family/friends will get a kick out of it, and of course, a photo op.

The Popeye statue at the Illinois Welcome Center in Chester is a fun and unmistakably local…read morelandmark, sitting right in the parking area on the Illinois side of the bridge that leads to Perryville Missouri. It's a cheerful figure and on a quick stop, it adds a little personality to what would otherwise be a standard highway welcome center. The placement is perfect. Enter the parking lot and there he is with that classic grin before you even get to the building. It's here because Chester is the hometown of Elzie Crisler Segar, the creator of Popeye. The town has fully embraced that heritage, scattering character statues around the area and celebrating its connection to the comic strip. The welcome center Popeye is one of the most visible of the bunch, acting as a friendly introduction to the town's quirky claim to fame. As roadside attractions go, it's simple but charming, and it sets the tone nicely for a visit to Chester. [Review 1097 of 2026 - 257 in Illinois - 26276 overall]

What a lovely little park! It's very well maintained. I spent the afternoon here with my 3 year old…read moreniece, who loved their playground perfect for ages 2-5. Ground was covered in recycled tire treads, and the play equipment was just her size. There were a few benches, a pavilion with picnic table, and porta potty nearby in the area where she played. There are also some fun and unique features: - there is a small but picturesque waterfall (a bridal party was taking photos while we were there) - there is a mini Statue of Liberty, how fun and patriotic! - there was also a war memorial with some remembrance benches Of course, there were also some typical park attractions like a (very hilly) walking path; gazebo; pavilions with picnic tables and grills; koi pond; basketball hoop; and shady, grassy spaces to enjoy and be one with nature. This is a small park, and park was either street side or in one of two very small lots. This is not a busy spot. If you come here, it's to enjoy some quiet time with a grandchild (or niece or kids!), have a small friend and family gathering, and relax in DeSoto's small town hospitality. They take good care of their parks!

My favorite De Soto park. A beautiful, small, hidden gem of a park. It's a little off the main…read morethoroughfare so not usually as crowded as Walter Park. The pavilion and landscaping are very nice. Highly recommended.