Take a (Virtual) Vacation Throughout Great Rivers & Routes
Ok. Life as we know it has changed.
Kids and parents are studying and working from home. All. The. Time. And suddenly, there seem to be a lot of hours to fill as we all practice social distancing and do our part to keep the COVID-19 outbreak to a minimum.While we can’t tell everyone to hop in their car and explore the Great Rivers & Routes region in person right now, we can offer some virtual tours.
So gather the family around the computer and let’s go on a (virtual) trip and enjoy the sights and sounds of the only place in America where the Mother Road of Route 66 meets the Great River Road!
Walk In Lincoln’s Footsteps
Put down the history books and experience the past in an entirely new way History comes to life in the riverfront community of Alton as you walk in Abraham Lincoln's footsteps. Did you know that Lincoln spent quite a bit of time in this riverfront community just outside St. Louis? As a young lawyer he argued cases in the city and made some great friends. The final, and historic, Lincoln-Douglas Debate took place on the steps of the former Alton City Hall in 1858, just a few years before he was elected the 16th U.S. President.
Read more about Lincoln and walk in Lincoln’s footsteps with an audio tour of the Lincoln Legacy Trail here.
Did You Know? Lincoln and wife, Mary Todd, were involved in a mini scandal which resulted in Lincoln being challenged to a duel in Alton. Whether that story is fact or fiction, Lincoln left an indelible legacy on the Alton area.
Benjamin Godfrey Trail
Benjamin Godfrey, a one time merchant sailor and businessman, landed on the Mississippi River banks of Alton in the early 1830’s. Godfrey went on to leave his mark on Alton and the community that now bears his name, Godfrey, over the course of his life. He pioneered a women’s seminary modeled after Yale University. He also helped bring the railroad to the region with the help of his friend Abraham Lincoln. Listen to Godfrey's Legacy here.
Journey back thousands of years to Cahokia Mounds, an ancient Native American civilization, perched in the lush American Bottoms of southwest Illinois. The population of this native mound culture rivaled that of London, England at one point. It is one of the few Native American mound areas found north of Mexico.
Take a video tour with Linda Sinco of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site here.
There's so much more to see and do in the Great Rivers & Routes region! Download the annual Travel Guide and make plans to escape to southwest Illinois once mandated social distancing becomes a thing of the past. Click on the photo above to get your copy now.
We look forward to seeing you!