Great River Road
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  • America's First Interstate: The Mississippi River

    America's First Interstate: The Mississippi River

    Updated May 8, 2012

    As one of the great transportation arteries on the western frontier, the Mississippi River played a crucial role in 19th century America. The mighty river represented the same ideas that our modern highways have come to symbolize: commerce, discovery, and freedom. In this way, the Mississippi River was America's first interstate.

  • Birding along the Great River Road

    Birding along the Great River Road

    Updated Feb 27, 2012

    The Great River Road showcases the mighty Mississippi River and highlights the historic importance of the river in the development of the United States. While appreciating the Mississippi River, be sure to not miss out on the impressive array of North American bird life along the expansive river.

  • The Legacy of Martin Luther King on Tennessee's Great River Road

    The Legacy of Martin Luther King on Tennessee's Great River Road

    Published on Apr 18, 2011 in The American Civil War

    Visit the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis for a trip back to one of the most turbulent times in our nation's history.

  • Explore Civil War History on the Plantations of Louisiana's Great River Road

    Explore Civil War History on the Plantations of Louisiana's Great River Road

    Published on Dec 8, 2010 in The American Civil War

    Follow the calm waters of the Mississippi River through Louisiana and explore the living history of the American Civil War through some of the best-preserved remnants of that era – the stately plantation homes of the Great River Road.

  • Walk the Civil War Trenches on Kentucky's Great River Road

    Walk the Civil War Trenches on Kentucky's Great River Road

    Published on Nov 24, 2010 in The American Civil War and The American Civil War: Battles and Beyond

    In late 1861, 19,000 Confederate soldiers worked hard to fortify the bluffs near Columbus, Kentucky on the Great River Road. Today, you can walk among the still-recognizable trenches dug by Southern soldiers, visit a museum, play miniature golf, go camping, enjoy scenic views, and more.

  • Tastes of Louisiana on the Great River Road

    Tastes of Louisiana on the Great River Road

    Published on May 24, 2010 in Food and Drink and The Holidays with Friends and Family

    One of the few things locals on Louisiana's Great River Road love more than making food or eating it is talking about it. Everyone agrees: elsewhere, people may eat to live, but in Louisiana, people live to eat. Spend a few days on the southern end of the Great River Road and find out for yourself.

  • Taste the Music of the Great River Road

    Taste the Music of the Great River Road

    Published on Sep 29, 2009

    No matter what kind of music you love, you’ll get your fill on the Great River Road. Traversing ten states, the Mississippi River has tasted every type of lifestyle and every type of music. Travel the Great River Road and get a taste of the music for yourself.

  • Shopping Specials on Iowa's Great River Road

    Shopping Specials on Iowa's Great River Road

    Published on Oct 20, 2008 in Bargains on America's Byways

    As you follow the Great River Road along Iowa’s eastern border, visit the stores and sellers that make this portion of the byway special. Pick up gifts for friends and family or treat yourself when you peruse a delightful assortment of genuine Iowa-made products along the byway.

  • Follow the Great River Road for Native American History

    Follow the Great River Road for Native American History

    Published on Apr 15, 2008

    Follow the Great River Road into the past as you explore remnants and reconstructions of the Mississippi River region’s rich Native American history. From Minnesota to Louisiana, count on the byway to connect you to enlightening museum exhibits, sacred mound sites, famously tragic trails, ancient culture displays, and exciting interactive events.

  • Documenting the Great River: Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

    Documenting the Great River: Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

    Published on Apr 18, 2006

    In our era of satellite navigation and global positioning systems, we tend to take geography for granted. In the 19th Century, however, geography drove geographers to several-month expeditions into the unknown. One of the great geographers of the Mississippi was Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, who played an integral part of several expeditions to map the source of the Mississippi River along the Great River Road in Minnesota.

  • Hiawatha: Fact vs. Literature in Minnehaha Park

    Hiawatha: Fact vs. Literature in Minnehaha Park

    Published on Mar 31, 2006

    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has been described as the first truly American poet. Hiawatha became America's most widely read poem of the 19th Century, spreading the fame of Minnehaha Falls and the uppermost regions of the Mississippi. Despite many misconceptions, both fact and literature contribute to the beauty of Minnehaha Park.

  • The Great River Road Overview

    The Great River Road Overview

    Published on Sep 24, 2003

    In sheer size and importance, the Mississippi River has few equals. The Great River Road borders the Mississippi through ten states from Minnesota to Louisiana, letting visitors experience all the natural beauty and cultural heritage each region has to offer.

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  • Baton Rouge to New Orleans

    2-Day Trip: Baton Rouge to New Orleans
    (Louisiana)

    Take a tour of the Louisiana Great River Road and enjoy the interesting history of the area. Cross the Mississippi River by way of several bridges and ferry boats, tour the historic old and new state capitols, understand the evolution of river transportation at a restored...

  • Exploring Southern Treasures of the Lower Mississippi Great River Road

    1-Day Trip: Exploring Southern Treasures of the Lower Mississippi Great River Road
    (Mississippi)

    In just over 100 miles, you can discover multiple sites of historical significance at both the state and national level. This route connects four of the oldest settlements along the Mississippi River. At every stop along the corridor, there are attractions listed on the...

  • Must-See Tour of Minnesota's Great River Road - Northern Section

    1-Day Trip: Must-See Tour of Minnesota's Great River Road - Northern Section
    (Minnesota)

    This 'Must-See' tour of the Great River Road begins at the headwaters of the Mississippi River, at Lake Itasca and travels east towards Grands Rapids, then south towards the city of St. Cloud. While the scenery itself is incredible, this tour includes the following stops:

  • Historic & Natural Wonders on the Great River Road of Tennessee

    2-Day Trip: Historic & Natural Wonders on the Great River Road of Tennessee
    (Tennessee)

    This road-trip will take you to sites that capture the historic importance of the communities along the Mississippi River corridor while providing opportunities to experience the natural beauty of the area. This trip is designed for travelers entering Tennessee from the north.

  • Mississippi Great River Road Historic Itinerary

    1-Day Trip: Mississippi Great River Road Historic Itinerary
    (Mississippi)

    A trip along the Mississippi Great River Road offers historic experiences that run as deep as its legendary topsoil. The entire region is of historic significance in that it made cotton the king of the agriculture industry of this nation. The route captures the dramatic river...

  • Kentucky's Mississippi River History

    1-Day Trip: Kentucky's Mississippi River History
    (Kentucky)

    This tour of Great River Road - Kentucky takes you for a historical journey along the Mississippi River.

  • Moline-to-Nauvoo Tour of Illinois` Great River Road

    1-Day Trip: Moline-to-Nauvoo Tour of Illinois` Great River Road
    (Illinois)

    See historic towns, well kept parks, and diverse museums. Visitors can learn about military, Native, and isolated local history in relation to the general story of America.

  • Touring the Great River - Wisconsin Itinerary

    2-Day Trip: Touring the Great River - Wisconsin Itinerary
    (Wisconsin)

    The tour of the Great River Road in Wisconsin highlights several of the historical, natural, and scenic sites along the Mississippi in the great northern state of Wisconsin. This two-day tour will let you experience the relaxed, comfortable feel of life along the river.

  • Exploring the History of the Little Dixie

    1-Day Trip: Exploring the History of the Little Dixie
    (Missouri)

    Explore some of Missouri's historical districts and get a feel for the Old South in some of the places you visit.

Places

See a list of all the Places to Visit along Great River Road (373)