Eagle Watching in Clarksvill, Missouri

Eagle wathching in Missouri, along the Mississippi River, is an annual event in January. People from the St. Louis area go to Alton, IL, Grafton, IL and Clarksvill, MO to watch the Eagles dive for fish and otherwise scout the river. The Mississippi is a migratory flyway as the eagles migrate between North America andContinue reading “Eagle Watching in Clarksvill, Missouri”

Riverfront Sunset

A nice view of Eads Bridge with downtown St. Louis and the Arch in the background. The Arch signifies St. Louis’ status as Gateway to the West. Many westbound trails came out of the St. Louis area. In addition, many of the supplies, livestock and wagons were purchased here, making it, at one time, theContinue reading “Riverfront Sunset”

Eads Bridge

Needing a railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi River at St. Louis, St. Louis bankers hired engineer James Eads to build the world’s first steel-truss bridge. Construction began in 1867 and it was dedicated in 1874. Giant granite piers support three arches and two decks. The top deck is the roadway and the bottom deck wasContinue reading “Eads Bridge”

Eads Bridge crossing the Mississippi

At the Missouri State Capitol, looking across a balcony, onto another parallel hallway is a mural of the St. Louis river front and Eads Bridge. At the end of the 19th Century, St. Louis was in the forefront of commerce in the United States. Riverboats on the Mississippi and the railway enhanced its status asContinue reading “Eads Bridge crossing the Mississippi”

Power Station

Recently one of our riverfront bridges was closed to automobile traffic allowing pedestrian traffic and spectaular views. Here we a looking north from the MLK Bridge on the St. Louis Riverfront. In the forground is the old Union Electric Power Plant and the Stan Musial Bridge, spanning the Mississippi River. Click on photo to fullContinue reading “Power Station”

Night Lights

Eero Saarinen’s Gateway Arch had stood unlighted for over 35 years, when Randy Burkett Lighting Design was commissioned to provide a design that would successfully reveal and celebrate the world renowned monument. It was an extreme technical and artistic challenge. At the outset of the project, it was dictated  by the National Park Service thatContinue reading “Night Lights”

Confluence

Sunflowers at Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area. This is at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.  The Conservation Department is managing Columbia Bottom to create a mosaic of bottomland habitats that includes shallow wetlands, bottomland hardwoods, prairie, and cropland. These habitats attract a wide variety of resident and migratory wildlife for the enjoyment ofContinue reading “Confluence”

19th Century Marvel

Eads Bridge, built in 1861, provides transportation across the Mississippi River by car, foot or rail. The bridge itself made St. Louis the true gateway to the west but the engineering techniques developed in the building of the bridge led to engineering marvels that created the Hoover Dam, Panama Canal and development of our westernContinue reading “19th Century Marvel”

Night time on the riverfront

The St. Louis riverfront featuring the Gateway Arch and the Eads Bridge. The City of St. Louis is connected to Illinois by an array of bridges. South of the city is the Popular Street Bridge, then, moving north, the Eads Bridge, MLK Bridge, Musial Bridge, MicKinley Bridge and, further north, the Chain of Rocks Bridge.Continue reading “Night time on the riverfront”

Pere Marquette Cabin

Driving up the The Great River Road outside of Alton, Illinois is a great experience. Driving from Alton, though Grafton on to Pere Marqutte State Park you will find great restaurants, wineries, bed and breakfasts and a spectacular view of the Mississippi River. Be sure to stop along the way to see the Bald EaglesContinue reading “Pere Marquette Cabin”