443 E. Broadway
Alton, IL
618-465-9392 |
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Warm weather brings the beautiful byways of
Southern Illinois to life with thousands of motorcycles and scooters.
Want to join in the fun but lack your own two-wheeled passport? Let
Ciao Bella Scooters provide the answer with a rental of either a
50cc scooter or a 250cc automatic motorcycle. |
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Mineral Springs
Haunted Tours
302 E. Broadway
Alton, IL
618-465-3200 |
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The only year-round haunted tour in Alton. Walking, dinner tours, and
haunted overnights. Private group tours (>12), group
discounts. Mineral Springs is the most haunted building in Alton, we
also go to other haunted locations. Includes séance and tarot card
reading. Visit www.mineralspringshauntedtours.com for information and
reservations. |
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Alton Museum
of History and Art
2809 College Avenue
Alton, IL
618-462-2763 |
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The Alton Museum of History and Art is dedicated
to preserving and interpreting the rich heritage of Alton’s past through
a variety exhibits. The Wadlow Room pays tribute to Alton’s Gentle
Giant, Robert Pershing Wadlow, the tallest man on record. The Pioneer
Room explores history from the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the end of
the Civil War. The 19th century found Alton at the center of national
events with the assassination of Elijah Lovejoy, the final
Lincoln-Douglas debate, and the establishment of the Underground
Railroad. Through the museum’s collection of art and artifacts the
visitor will feel the impact of this pivotal time in American history.
The Grace Monroe Classroom is dedicated to education but is also used as
an art gallery where fine art of diverse media by local and regional
artists is on display. Additional exhibits include a riverboat
memorabilia dedicated to the local legend of the Piasa Bird. |
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Armed Forces Museum
#2 Cut Street
Alton, IL
618-462-5237 |
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The Armed Forces Museum is dedicated to the
preservation of items that portray military history from all eras and
nations. It has an extensive collection of tracked, wheeled and armor
vehicles including a DUKW, armored personnel carriers, armored cars,
fire trucks, field ambulances, jeeps and jeep prototypes.
The Museum also has a collection of memorabilia including uniforms,
weapons, personal items and literature. Hours by appointment only. |
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The Beall Mansion
407 E. 12th Street
Alton, IL
618-474-9100 |
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Designed by world renowned architect, Lucas
Pfeiffenberger, and completed in 1903 -today this three story, 9,100
square foot mansion serves a dual role - both as a working museum of the
life of the rich and powerful of the turn of the 20th century and as the
area’s premiere luxury B&B. |
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The Clark Bridge
Connects Illinois & Missouri
via Highway 367/67 |
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Often called the "Super Bridge," the Clark Bridge
crosses the Mississippi River at Alton, Illinois. The bridge, which has
four traffic lanes and two bike lanes, spans 4,260 feet across the
river. The Clark Bridge was named after William Clark who, with
Meriwether Lewis in 1804, commanded the two year 4,000 mile exploration
of the Louisiana Purchase territory up the Missouri River into the
Pacific Northwest. The Lewis and Clark Expedition set off just a few
miles south of the bridge near Hartford, Illinois. |
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Confederate Memorials
& Prison Site
Alton, IL |
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During the Civil War, the abandoned Alton Federal
Prison reopened as a military detention camp to house Confederate
prisoners of war. Many of the prisoners and some of their guards died of
smallpox during an epidemic in 1862. An interpretive exhibit and the
remnants of the prison are near the Visitors Center in downtown Alton.
Two memorials to the Confederate prisoners who died of the smallpox
epidemic are located in the Alton area. |
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Elijah P. Lovejoy
Monument
Alton Cemetery
at Monument Avenue
Alton, IL |
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Elijah Lovejoy was a champion for freedom of the
press, freedom of speech, and freedom from slavery. He was killed by an
Alton pro-slavery mob defending his printing press in 1837. Plans for a
Lovejoy monument began in the 1850's but work wasn’t begun in earnest
until the 1890s. The memorial centers on a 93-foot high granite column
topped by a 17-foot high winged statue of Victory. The monument was
dedicated November 7, 1897, the sixtieth anniversary of Lovejoy's death. |
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Benjamin Godfrey
Memorial Chapel
5800 Godfrey Street
Godfrey, IL
618-468-3270 |
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The Godfrey Memorial Chapel was built in 1854.
The Illinois Department of Conservation reported in 1977 that "compared
to other surviving Greek Revival churches in Illinois, the building
certainly stands on its own. There is nothing like it in the state. It
is one of Illinois' impressive Civil War structures." The chapel was
listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois in 1979
as "one of the six most authentic copies of New England church
architecture beyond the North Eastern United States." |
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Gordon Moore Park
Route 140
(College Avenue)
Alton, IL |
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This 702 acre park located on the east side of Alton is the home of the
Spencer T. Olin Golf Course, a native prairie grass area, a rose garden
among other things. |
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Haskell Playhouse
1211 Henry Street
Alton, IL |
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This unique miniature Queen Anne style playhouse
designed by prominent local architect, Lucas J. Pfeiffenberger and built
in 1885 has been designated a National Register Historic Landmark. |
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Jacoby Arts Center
627 E. Broadway
Alton, IL
618-462-5222 |
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This facility in downtown Alton is located in the
renovated 1899 Jacoby furniture store. The Jacoby Arts Center features
an art gallery on the first floor with rotating exhibits by local
artists and offers classes for adults and children. |
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Koenig House
829 E. 4th Street
Alton, IL
618-463-1795 |
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The Alton Museum of History and Art maintains the
1887 Koenig House. The restored Victorian home’s first floor is
furnished as living quarters for a typical family with a 1890s parlor, a
1910s sitting room, and a 1930s kitchen. Exhibits at the Koenig House
include the Alton Landing Room, the Elijah P. Lovejoy Memorial Room, and
the Lovejoy Print Shop. Tours by appointment. |
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Lincoln Douglas
Square
Broadway & Market
Alton, IL |
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The
seventh and last debate between Senatorial candidates Abraham Lincoln
and Stephen Douglas was held on October 16, 1858. Over 6,000 people,
including state and national figures, gathered for the event which was
held in front of the City Hall. Today Lincoln Douglas Square, with life
sized statues of the debaters, is a monument to this historic event. |
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McPike Mansion
20th & Alby Street
Alton, IL
618-462-3348 |
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The
McPike Mansion was built in 1869 by architect Lucas Pfeiffenberger for
Henry Guest McPike, a horticulturist known for perfecting the McPike
Grape. The McPike used the house as their country home until 1936. Today
the McPike Mansion is owned by Sharyn and George Luedke who have been
restoring this great house back to its original state after being
abandoned.
Tours of the mansion are available by appointment or
by attending the periodic haunted campouts. |
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Melvin Price Locks & Dam
2751 Berns Highway
East Alton, IL
877-462-6979 |
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Every year, millions of tons of commodities pass
through the Melvin Price Locks and Dam. Located just south of the Clark
Bridge near Alton, the Melvin Price Locks and Dam is the only facility
that in the Middle Mississippi River Valley that accessible to the
public. Visitors can watch river craft use the locks and free tours are
conducted daily. Picnic tables and bird watching platforms are located
along the entrance drive. The National Great Rivers Museum is located on
the property and
the Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area is just across the river. |
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Nan Elliott
Memorial Rose Garden
South Side Rt. 140
at Gordon Moore Park
Alton, IL
618-463-3580 |
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This stunning 1 acre rose garden, a doctor's memorial to his wife,
contains more than 1,800 rose bushes and is an All-America Rose
Selections accredited garden.
For more on Gordon Moore Park. |
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National Great Rivers
Museum
Hwy 143 at Locks & Dam Way
East Alton, IL
877-462-6979 |
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The National Great Rivers Museum is located next
to
the Melvin Price Locks and Dam and features state of the
art interactive displays and exhibits that help visitors understand the
many aspects of the Mississippi River and how it affects our lives. A
large model of the bluffs provides information local flora and fauna. An
aquarium displays the various species of Mississippi River fish.
Exhibits display how humans have used the Mississippi as a highway and
chronicle the types of vessels used from canoes to modern day barges.
The Pilot House allows visitors to see what it's like to guide a
1,000-foot tow of barges. A park is along the entrance road has picnic
facilities and bird watching platforms and the Riverlands Environmental
Demonstration Area is just across the river. |
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The Heartland Prairie
North Side Rt. 140
at Gordon Moore Park
Alton, IL
618-467-2254 |
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27 acres of tall-grass prairie located in Gordon Moore Park. Visitors
can find prairie wildflowers blooming from late March through early
October.
For more on Gordon Moore Park |
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Olin
Nature Preserve
S. Levis Lane
Godfrey, IL
618-467-2254 |
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Although Illinois still is known as the "Prairie State," less than 0.01%
of Illinois' original 21 million acres of prairie remains. One area that
is being preserved is the nearly 300-acre tract Olin Nature Preserve,
one of the largest privately owned nature preserves in the state. The
preserve harbors 374 native plant species and provides habitat to nearly
150 species of birds at different times of the year. Marked trails give
the visitor splendid views of the Mississippi River from the hill
prairie, and a view of the Mississippi flood plain. |
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Piasa Bird
1 mile north of the
Alton Visitors Center
on the Great River Road |
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On
their exploratory trip down the Mississippi River in 1673, Pere Jacques
Marquette and Louis Joliet recorded seeing a Native American petroglyph
(a prehistoric carving, usually pictorial, gouged into a rock surface).
Legend has it that the Piasa (pronounced Pie-a-saw) was a bird-like
creature of such great size that it could easily carry off humans and
was killed by Ouatoga and his warriors. The modern rendition is a
48-by-22 foot painting situated on a 100-by-75 section of the
Mississippi bluffs just north of Alton. |
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Piasa Creek
Access Area
6 1/2 miles north of the
Alton Visitors Center
on the Great River Road |
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Piasa Island Wildlife Management Area consists of two islands, Piasa and
Eagles Nest, and includes the Piasa Creek Boat Access Area. This access
area was completely refurbished in 1992 and offers the only free public
boat access between Alton and Grafton. |
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Riverlands Environmental
Demonstration Area
301 Riverlands Way
West Alton, MO
636-899-2600 or
1-888-899-2602 |
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The Corps of Engineers manages this 1200 acre
wetland area that is located across Mississippi River from downtown
Alton near the Clark Bridge. The Riverlands Environmental Demonstration
attempts to recreate the bottomland wet prairie and marshes that existed
prior to the arrival of European settlers and offers open space, walking
trails, fresh air, and spectacular views. The area offers visitors the
opportunity to view large numbers of resident and migratory waterfowl
and shorebirds, as well as other wildlife that live in the wetlands. The
area is noted for bald eagles in the winter and the American Pelican in
the spring and fall. |
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Robert P. Wadlow
World's Tallest Man
Memorial Statue
Across from Loomis Hall
2809 College Avenue
Alton, IL |
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Alton's "Gentle Giant," Robert P. Wadlow, grew to
an enormous height due to an overactive pituitary gland. At the time of
his death in 1940 he was 8', 11.1" tall making him the world’s tallest
person in history, according to the Guinness Book of Records. A
life-size bronze statue of Wadlow was unveiled in 1985 on the grounds of
SIUE’s Dental School across the street from the Alton Museum of History
and Art. |
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The Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail
The
Vadalabene Trail is approximately 20 miles of level paved trail that
parallels the Great River Road and the center portion of the Meeting of
the Great Rivers Scenic Byway. The trail is named after Sam M.
Vadalabene, an Illinois State Senator and proponent of the trail and
begins in Alton, travels through the river towns of Elsah and Grafton,
and ends at Pere Marquette State Park. Riders, walkers, and joggers will
see prairie wildflowers along the trail as well as flowering trees
during the spring. Brilliant reds, yellows and oranges compliment the
scenery in the fall. For those willing to brave the elements in the
winter months should be able to see Bald Eagles soaring over the river
and bluffs, or floating down the river on chunks of ice. |
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West Alton
Bike Trail
West Alton, MO |
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Two mile long paved trail links Missouri's KATY trail with Illinois
biking routes. |
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Argosy Casino
Alton, IL |
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#1 Front Street
1-800-711--4263 |
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Alton Marina
Alton, IL |
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1 Henry Street
618-462-9860 |
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Antoinette's
Haunted History Tours
Alton, IL |
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PO Box 10
618-462-4009 |
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Bluff City Tours
Alton, IL |
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3002 Godfrey Road
618-466-8693 |
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J.E. Robinson Tours
Alton, IL |
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618-462-5590 |
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| Nearby
Attractions |
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Wood
River Area |
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Southeast of Alton, along the
Great River Road, is Lewis
& Clark country. These great explorers made camp in the Wood
River/Hartford area in the winter of 1803-1804. There are numerous projects scheduled for
completion before the expedition's Bicentennial. Before you get to Wood
River and Hartford is the town of East Alton, home of the Melvin Price
Locks and Dam and the National Great Rivers Museum. Visitors will also find
several local history museums telling the tales of their
communities. |
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Elsah
and Grafton |
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Northwest of Alton, the Scenic
Byway travels to the river towns of Elsah and Grafton. The entire town
of Elsah has been designated a historic district and is home to a number
of Bed and Breakfasts. Grafton is situated at the confluence of the
Mississippi and Illinois rivers and is known as "The Winter Home of
The Bald Eagle" due to the number of good eagle watching sites in
its proximity. Just west of Grafton is Pere Marquette State Park. |
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For Travelers Heading Across The River |
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Meeting
the Missouri
The two longest rivers of the United States, the Missouri and the
Mississippi, meet at St. Charles County, Missouri. The
Historic St. Charles downtown area offers visitors a variety of
attractions including the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature
Center, The Foundry Art Centre, and Missouri’s First State
Capitol. Nearby is Confluence State Park and the Daniel Boone
Home. |
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St. Louis Area
To the east of
the Southern Madison County area lies metropolitan St. Louis. Easily
accessible by 1-70, I-44, I-64, and I-55 the region offers an abundance of
activities that cover the interests of almost any visitor. |
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