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]

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.

Kinda blew right past the welcome center hosting this tribute due to lots of goings on going on…read morewhat with the bridge construction and reconfiguring the approaches and all that... Popeye is all bronzed up for the world to adore as he welcomes folks to Chester Illinois, hometown of EC Segar. plenty of parking but the lot will need some attention when the road is completed. the visitor's center looks full up with sailor stuff so stop in when you can and have a look.. there's maps available that show the location of 18 other statues of characters from print and film if you want to spend a day doing nothing of merit but enjoyable regardless. this, the first statue, dates from 1977. after a twenty-nine year hiatus 18 additional marble statues were eventually installed around town - one per year - to enhance the visitor experience. yea Popeye!

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.