Landmark in the middle of nowhere, that's pretty cool. There' s plenty of parking and a plaque…read morewith info that you can almost read, but may be better to bring a large piece of paper and pencil to transfer the message to easier readability. .|\---/| | o_o | .\_^_/..2021

Everywhere we go, people want to know, who we are...... We…read moreare the birds, the mighty, mighty birds....... That is part of an old high school cheer. I'm a graduate of Southwestern High School and the Piasa Bird was our mascot. So the Piasa Bird has a special place in my heart. Growing up in the area, I remember another location of the bird being painted on the bluffs. It was sit back further from the road, so this present day location is more tourist friendly. When visiting the Alton and Grafton area, it is worth a stop to view the painting and to read the legend of the mighty, mighty Piasa Bird.

If you know me, you know I'm fascinated by everyday historic landmarks. I prefer the places people…read moredon't always think about - like the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. So, fun facts. Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is part of the even more historic Route 66. It also helps to connect Missouri and Illinois (and yes, you can walk it - or wheel it in my case). Built in 1929, the bridge features a 30-degree turn halfway across the mile-long bridge. While today this area is very passable by ships, in 1929 a "chain of rocks" (a 17-mile shoal) made passage difficult. Originally designed to go straight across, riverboat men protested because the bridge itself would have created an additional obstacle. Essentially, it had to "bend" for the sake of safe passage. The bridge cost twice its original estimate ($2.5 million), but it was built as a "destination" from the beginning. The Missouri side had a park; the Illinois side had 400 elm trees. There was even an amusement park. Also, during World War II the red sections were painted green so it would be less visible from air. The bridge closed in terms of official function in 1968 - a new Chain of Rocks Bridge opened in 1967 and includes Interstate 270. Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was nearly destroyed in 1967. For several years, that seemed likely. In 1980 (another fun fact), John Carpenter used the bridge in Escape From New York). Obviously, the bridge has been restored to some fame. It's now part of the Route 66 Bikeway (as of 1999), and in 2006 was added to the National Register of Historic Places. I'm considering a Route 66 Tenderness Tour (or at least part of the 2,000+ mile highway). This bridge may become part of that, so I'm thrilled I got the chance to check it out. The pathway for biking/wheeling is nicely done, easy to maneuver, and stunning in beauty (though it was an admittedly beautiful day when I was on the bridge). The bridge offers connections to the MCT Confluence Trail, Mississippi River Trail (Isn't it weird? I've been out of school 30+ years and I still sing the Mississippi song when I spell it), and the St. Louis Riverfront Trail. There's free parking on the Illinois side at the bridge entrance and also at North Riverfront Park. The Missouri side has a park with a pavilion, native habitats, an event lawn, and a gated parking lot (the event space opened in 2024). The bridge, no longer used by vehicles, is open daily for bikers/pedestrians (and wheelchairs).

This old bridge is an awesome piece of Americana history. It is about a 1 mile walk to get across…read morethe bridge. There are 2 castle looking buildings in the ole Mississippi that use to be the water source for the city of St Louis. I would recommend parking on the Missouri side as it has be recently redone. Nice parking lot with picnic tables and overhead protection from the sun. No running water but there are 2 porta potties under an awning. The Illinois side is not as pleasant.

A great place to learn about the barges that go up and down the Mississippi River…read more When you are in the museum, be sure to try to simulator where you get to drive a barge. If you can drive one through the locks, you may have a new career. When I tried, I wrecked my barge. Once I took the tour of the locks and dam and saw how narrow the locks actually are, I can saw why I wrecked. Tours are given at 10 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM and they're free. The views are amazing. Being 80 feet above the river, you'll love the view. Hopefully you'll be lucky enough to see a barge of a boat going through one of the locks. The Lock and Dam is not a tourist attraction that you visit just once, every time you visit, it is a different experience.

Very informative museum. Tour to the lock available for free but they don't have many tours so call…read moreand find out early. Nice view of the river.

What a delightful bed and breakfast mansion complete with host in a tuxedo and amazing history! I…read morefelt right at home and absolutely loved my amazing suite complete with chandeliers in the bedroom and spa bathroom. The bed is soooo comfortable, the fireplace homey and takes any chill off on a rainy night. The jacuzzi helped ease my muscles after a long drive. I was a short drive from bakeries, restaurants and St, Louis.

We LOVE the Beall. We got married there in 2017. We've been back several times for anniversaries &…read morefor a weekend getaway. Every stay we've had was amazing. Jim & Sandy are the BEST hosts. The beds are SO comfortable, so many pillows to choose from you'll find the perfect one. Attention to details far surpassed my expectations - everything has a added touch, from the turn down service to the plush robes and bath salts Sandy makes - you won't regret choosing the Beall. The jacuzzi tub in the Senator Beall room is huge. We love little bed & breakfasts, and this is by far the best one we've been to.

Visited on weekend celebrating the beginning of the expedition. The museum has a vast amount of…read moreinformation about the trip, supplies, people involved, readying for journey. This weekend had reenactors outside showing early 19th century crafts. Fun for all and great learning experience.

We stopped by on a whim when visiting the in-laws. It happened to be the anniversary & there were…read moreperiod actors interacting that were set up throughout, with assorted stations. This was both cool & informative. There was no entry fee, always a plus. The info desk had a guest book. It appeared most visitors who signed were from Illinois. The movie wasn't playing during our visit, I'm not sure if there was a mechanical issue or if it was because of the special celebration. So, I can't speak on it. It's smaller than I expected, yet very interesting & I did learn a few new details. We walked out to the cabins/fort & they were all locked with some of them having the roofs/walls collapsed. Perhaps an entry fee is in order for maintenance/upkeep. Overall, worth a stop, especially for those interested in the expedition.

This museum was awesome! I wasn't expecting much from this small home, but I was more than…read moreimpressed. I have never been to a museum that uses the home like it was used in its hay-day. The kitchen was remodeled in the late 1800's so they rebuilt a detached replica of the original kitchen which was the very neat. They tour guide let us touch all the utensils, cookware, and tools while she explained how they would have been used. Inside, they tore the building down to the bricks and rebuilt it exactly as it was in 1820. If you have a couple hours to explore while in Edwardsville, stop for a tour....you will be impressed.

From the owner: We are a hands-on history museum that offers a fun and unique view of life in 1820 Illinois. A…read morevariety of special events and activities are offered throughout the year as well as guided tours of the site.