Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway
Welcome!
Time and again visitors are drawn to America’s great rivers looking for adventure, a sense of the past and the days of leisurely vacations and relaxing drives. Return to a time of simplicity as you experience the beauty of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, where the Mighty Mississippi, Missouri & Illinois rivers meet.
Before You Get Started
With no stops, driving the entire byway takes about one hour. In order to fully experience everything the region has to offer, set aside two to three days for your trip. If you need help planning your trip, call the Alton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-258-6645 or go to www.GreatRiversByway.com for a complete listing of area lodging, dining, shopping, attractions and upcoming events.
1
Lewis & Clark State Historic Site
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
Come back to where the journey began at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. As National Trail Site #1 on the Lewis & Clark Trail, this museum is dedicated to telling the Illinoi...
2
Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
The new Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower is located in Hartford, Illinois, two miles from the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, which is National Trail Site #1 on the Lewis & Clark ...
Wood River Museum
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
The Wood River Heritage Council has worked diligently to preserve the town's past at the Wood River Museum and Visitors Center. Here you will find exhibits on the Wood River massac...
4
National Great Rivers Museum
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
Opened in October 2003, this state-of-the-art museum is dedicated to telling the story of life on the Mighty Mississippi River and how it has shaped our culture, history, economy, ...
5
Melvin Price Locks & Dam
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
See the best view of Alton and the Mississippi River from eight stories in the air atop the Melvin Price Locks & Dam. As one of the largest locks on the Mississippi River, the lock...
Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Last Modified: May 12, 2013
The Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary offers visitors the opportunity to connect with hundreds of species of fish, birds and wildlife that populate this vital, threatened ecosyst...
7
Audubon Center at Riverlands
Last Modified: May 11, 2013
The Audubon Center at Riverlands features world-class birding and outdoor opportunities year-round. The Center’s informative displays and materials are a starting point from which...
8
Alton Riverfront Park & Amphitheater
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
When Rufus Easton first settled Alton, he decreed that the “riverside be dedicated to commons for the people’s use without hindrance.” For the visitor today, a stroll through Rive...
9
Lovejoy Monument
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
During the slavery era, Elijah Lovejoy was a pastor who wrote anti-slavery editorials so controversial he became an object of hatred by slaveholders. Despite threats to his life, h...
10
Alton Prison Remains
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
Built in 1833, Alton houses Illinois' first state penitentiary. During the Civil War, the facility imprisoned thousands of Confederate soldiers. Partial remains of the structure ca...
11
Confederate Cemetery
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
A smallpox virus spread rapidly through the Alton Prison in 1863, killing more than 1,435 incarcerated soldiers. The soldiers are laid to rest here and each of their names is comme...
12
Small Pox Monument
Last Modified: May 12, 2013
In February 1862, the prison was reopened as a Federal Military Prison. Overcrowding quickly became a problem and the population often exceeded the supposed capacity of 1,200 priso...
13
Robert Wadlow Statue
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
In 1918, Alton became the famous birthplace of Robert Wadlow, "The Gentle Giant." Born a normal eight pounds in 1918, Wadlow suffered from a pituitary gland problem. He was almost ...
14
Alton Museum of History & Art
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
Winged monsters, explorers, riverboats and a gentle giant. The Alton Museum of History and Art shows the crossroads of American history right here in Alton. The museum is located i...
15
Lincoln-Douglas Square
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
The final debate of Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln took place in front of Alton's city hall at the corner of Broadway and Market Streets. The senatorial debate drew nationa...
16
Piasa Park
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
The dragon-like beast that still inhabits the river's bluffs today as a painting was first discovered and recorded by Father Jacques Marquette in 1673 during his exploration of the...
17
Great Rivers Park
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
Hoffman Gardens was named in honor of Godfrey’s first mayor, Lars Hoffman. This gem of a park is located on the byway just north of Alton on Illinois Route 100. A pull-off at the...
18
Olin Nature Preserve
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
Over the years, the Nature Institute in Godfrey has acquired nearly 300 acres of land surrounding the Olin Nature Preserve. Fostering an awareness and appreciation of the natural ...
Village of Elsah
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
In 1853, James Semple founded the Village of Elsah, naming it for the last bit of land that he saw as he sailed from his native land of Scotland. Elsah became quite a port on the ...
20
Principia College
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
Located high upon the bluffs, Principia College is the only Christian Science College in the world. In 1930, the land for Principia College was purchased in Elsah, overlooking the...
City of Grafton
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
In the early 1800s, Grafton’s riverfront was one of the largest fresh water fishing ports on the Mississippi River. The riverfront landscape was packed with manufacturing companie...
22
Pere Marquette Cross
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
On June 10, 1673, French explorer Louis Joliet and Jesuit priest Father Jacques Marquette led the first French expedition down the Mississippi River in search of the Pacific Ocean....
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
Encompassing 8,501-acres, the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge is one of five refuges in the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The majority of the land protected is l...
24
Pere Marquette State Park
Last Modified: Apr 25, 2013
With nearly 8,000 acres of scenic beauty, Pere Marquette State Park is one of the most picturesque and beautiful locations on the Illinois River. As the largest state park in Illin...