The Great River Road is one of America’s national treasures. greatriverroad.com's  coverage extends from Hannibal in the north to Ste. Genevieve in the south and brings our readers information on both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river. Our coverage is divided into regions and brings you information on what to do and see, in-depth coverage of annual events, and where to shop, stay, and eat. We bring the history of real river towns and interesting facts to enhance a visit. greatriverroad.com invites you to explore our pages and then to explore the Middle Mississippi River Valley.

greatriverroad.com covers the following regions of the Mississippi River Valley
	A- Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway       Illinois counties of Calhoun, Jersey, and Madison B- French Colonial Country       Illinois counties of St. Clair, Monroe, and Randolph       Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri C- Meeting the Missouri       St. Charles County, Missouri D- Riverboat Country       Missouri counties of Pike, Ralls, and southern Marion CLICK HERE FOR A MORE DETAILED MAP

MEETING OF THE GREAT RIVERS SCENIC BYWAY AREA
The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area is where greatriverroad.com began. We started covering the region in early 2001, have been expanding our coverage ever since, and this area remains our flagship. The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area is where the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers meet. Here you'll find magnificent limestone bluffs, forested parks and wildlife areas, real river towns, ferries that ply the rivers, brilliant fall colors, wintering bald eagles, and friendly and gracious people. Two jewels anchor the byway: Pere Marquette State Park (photo right) in the north and the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in the south. The Vadalabene Bike Trail parallels the Great River Road beneath towering limestone bluffs between Alton and the Pere Marquette. These are just some of the treasures awaiting visitors to this region. Click here to learn more about our coverage that includes the Illinois counties of Madison, Jersey and Calhoun.  

FRENCH COLONIAL COUNTRY
The region along the Mississippi River south of St. Louis is French Colonial Country having been by France after an expedition led by Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette. The area is the oldest region settled by Europeans west of the Appalachian Mountains with the founding of Cahokia in 1699, the same year as Williamsburg, the colonial capitol of Virginia, and predating New Orleans by nearly 20 years. Although English is the common language spoken in the region today, the French heritage is not forgotten. Ste. Genevieve (photo right) has more than 150 pre-1825 structures and the region has the largest concentration of French Colonial architecture in the North America. Fort de Chartres, a rebuilt 18th century French Fort, is the Mississippi Valley’s premier site for French Colonial reenactments. Click here to learn more about our coverage that includes Randolph and St. Clair counties in Illinois and Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri.  

MEETING THE MISSOURI
Situated a short drive northwest of St. Louis is the city of St. Charles which traces its history to the late 18th century. American settlers arrived shortly thereafter and the city served as the first state Capitol in Missouri. The beautifully preserved historic districts of downtown Main Street and nearby Frenchtown are a shopper’s paradise with over 100 specialty shops, antique stores, and restaurants. The Lewis & Clark Boat House (photo right) sits on the banks of the Missouri River near the explorers left the last outpost of European civilization in 1804. The Foundry Art Centre is a wonderful new facility with four galleries for exhibits and studios where visitors can talk with the artists as they work. The wide variety of special events that occur throughout the year make St. Charles an interesting stop along the Great River Road or as a destination in itself. A short drive down Highway 94 from St. Charles is Augusta, situated in the wine country of the Missouri River bluffs. Visitors will find a number of wineries, shops, and B&B's in this area. Click here to learn more about our coverage that includes St. Charles County, Missouri.

RIVERBOAT COUNTRY
The name Hannibal conjures up images of the steamboat era of the mid-19t century. The town has become virtually synonymous with Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, and Huck Finn. Hannibal is host to a large number of museums, historic houses, river related attractions, shops, and events that make it a top destination of visitors. South of Hannibal and stretching for 30 miles along the Great River Road is one of America’s newest Scenic Byways: The Little Dixie Scenic Byway. The Byway travels atop limestone bluffs and offers stunning views of the mighty Mississippi River. The real river towns of Clarksville and Louisiana are main attractions along the route as are the bald eagles (photo right) that flock to Lock and Dam #24 in the winter. A burgeoning community of talented artists is springing up in the region, many who have shops in the downtown districts. Click here to learn more about our coverage that includes Pike, Ralls, and southern Marion counties in Missouri.

Specialty Directories
While researching the region we at greatriverroad.com have found that some topics encompass more than one region and that the amount of information we gathered warrants a special section. The Middle Mississippi River Valley has a vibrant art community with a number of museums, galleries, public spaces, and events. Lewis and Clark made a number of stops as the journeyed up the Mississippi and prepared for their voyage west. Bald eagles from the Great Lakes flock the region during the winter with two towns making the claim "the eagle viewing capitol of the United States." The region’s woodlands come alive with color in the fall, ferries offer a unique way to cross the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, and antique hunters will find treasures in the many towns along the Great River Road.