Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route
Piasa Bird Mural, IL

The legendary Piasa Bird painting is carved into the limestone bluffs over the Mississippi River in Alton. It stands as a reminder of what first greeted Louis Joliet and Father Marquette as they explored the area in 1673. When they were nearing the Illinois River, the two explorers described seeing a painted "flying reptilian dragon" on the rockface over the river. The legendary Piasa Bird was said to have been first painted into the rock by an ancient Indian tribe living near the river. The original archaeological find was moved from place to place as dirt and rock were moved to facilitate the city's growth. The Piasa Bird that stands today has been refurbished with new paint and is visible as far away as the Clark Bridge.