Day 81 The Ultimate USA road trip Springfield St Louis
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RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 19-10-2023
Route Summary I have further supplemented the Road Trip with even more special points that you can visit in the USA. Today we drive from Springfield Illinois to St. Louis Missouri. It is a ride of almost 315 kilometers, with a number of nice stops.
We drive on beautiful provincial roads, through a beautiful green, hilly landscape and follow the Mississippi and Illinois River for part of the ride, with a few spectacular lift bridges. There is a stop planned at a museum and a number of photo stops are planned, I really appreciate this route
3 stars.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
9h 48m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
314.36 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review We drive through green and hilly Illinois, it is a relaxing drive and there are few sights along the route. We pass a few villages and towns, such as Berlin, Jacksonville and Winchester, so there is always an option to stop briefly for a walk.
A number of stops are planned to take photos, such as at the two lift bridges over the Illinois River. These gigantic metal bridges have a section in the middle that can be lifted up to allow the ships to pass. Definitely worth planning a short stop. The Florence Bridge is the first bridge where we stop and the second is the Joe Page Bridge near the town of Hardin, this bridge is named after Joseph M. Page (1845-1938). Page served in the Union army during the Civil War and settled in Jerseyville after that conflict. Joe Page was involved in politics and served as mayor of Jerseyville five times.
Another interesting stop is at the mural on a rock near the town of Alton. A “Piasa” is painted on the steep rock wall, this is a mythical animal that is said to live along the Mississippi. It is a dragon that the Algonquin-speaking peoples call the “man-eating bird.” It is a hideous beast with the head of an angry man, sharp teeth, the beard of a tiger, the antlers of a deer, spiky wings, four bird feet and claws like an eagle. A long scorpion-like tail with a fish fin at the end is wrapped around its body. He is so strong that he can lift a man or a deer without difficulty.
After a short visit to the local Harley-Davidson dealer we visit the “National Great Rivers Museum” and the “Melvin Price Locks and Dam” in Alton. This museum tells the story of the people, nature and wildlife that have shaped the mighty river throughout history. The museum is full of interactive and computer-animated exhibits that illustrate the impact of the Mississippi River on people and the region.
This 12,000 square foot museum has been open to the public since 2003 and is located next to Melvin Price Locks and Dam. It is the direct result of a partnership between the Meeting of the Rivers Foundation and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Its purpose is to spotlight the mighty Mississippi River and interpret its story. Through interactive exhibitions, a theater and daily public tours, the facility introduces the public to the great rivers, their environment, the importance of their presence and the interaction we as humans have with them. The lock complex and the dam are very impressive.
The next stop is also the end point of the day, St Louis on the Mississippi. This city has much to offer and we will visit the “Gateway Arch National Park”, which in its original form as a national monument was established in 1935 to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase and the subsequent westward movement of American explorers and pioneers, the first civilian government in west of the Mississippi River and the slavery debate raised by the Dred Scott case.
The national park is home to the famous “Gateway Arch” which was completed on October 28, 1965. This 192 meter high stainless steel arch has become the icon of St. Louis. At the foot of the “Gateway Arch” there is a 13,000 m2 museum
On the site of the city's first buildings stands the “Old Courthouse,” a former state and federal courthouse where the Dred Scott case originated. At 37 hectares, it is the smallest national park in the United States, but definitely worth a visit. You can also enjoy a “Gateway Arch River Boat Dinner Cruise,” with some of the best views of the “Gateway Arch” and the St. Louis Skyline. You can enjoy a romantic dinner, a relaxing cruise or a party with live music and dancing.
Enjoy your stay in St Louis, the largest city in the Great Plains, on the Mississippi River. The city has a rich culture and history. St. Louis has traditionally been “The Gateway to the West” and played an important role in the development of the young United States. The “Gateway Arch”, the symbol of the city, is even more impressive in real life than in the photos. Many music legends made it big in St Louis, including Tina Turner, Scott Joplin, Chuck Berry and Miles Davis.
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Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Missouri
About this region
Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to the south and Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska to the west. In the south are the Ozarks, a forested highland, providing timber, minerals, and recreation. The Missouri River, after which the state is named, flows through the center into the Mississippi River, which makes up the eastern border. With more than six million residents, it is the 19th-most populous state of the country. The largest urban areas are St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield and Columbia; the capital is Jefferson City.
Humans have inhabited what is now Missouri for at least 12,000 years. The Mississippian culture, which emerged at least in the ninth century, built cities and mounds before declining in the 14th century. When European explorers arrived in the 17th century, they encountered the Osage and Missouria nations. The French incorporated the territory into Louisiana founding Ste. Genevieve in 1735 and St. Louis in 1764. After a brief period of Spanish rule, the United States acquired Missouri as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Americans from the Upland South, including enslaved African Americans, rushed into the new Missouri Territory. Missouri was admitted as a slave state as part of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Many from Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee settled in the Boonslick area of Mid-Missouri. Soon after, heavy German immigration formed the Missouri Rhineland.
Missouri played a central role in the westward expansion of the United States, as memorialized by the Gateway Arch. The Pony Express, Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail and California Trail all began in Missouri. As a border state, Missouri's role in the American Civil War was complex, and it was subject to rival governments, raids, and guerilla warfare. After the war, both Greater St. Louis and the Kansas City metropolitan area became centers of industrialization and business. Today the state is divided into 114 counties and the independent city of St. Louis.
Missouri's culture blends elements of the Midwestern and Southern United States. It is the birthplace of the musical genres ragtime, Kansas City jazz and St. Louis blues. The well-known Kansas City-style barbecue, and the lesser-known St. Louis-style barbecue, can be found across the state and beyond. Missouri is a major center of beer brewing and has some of the most permissive alcohol laws in the U.S. It is home to Anheuser-Busch, the world's largest beer producer, and produces an eponymous wine produced in the Missouri Rhineland and Ozarks. Outside the state's major cities, popular tourist destinations include the Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Branson.
Well-known Missourians include Chuck Berry, Sheryl Crow, Walt Disney, Edwin Hubble, Nelly, Brad Pitt, Harry S. Truman, and Mark Twain. Some of the largest companies based in the state include Cerner, Express Scripts, Monsanto, Emerson Electric, Edward Jones, H&R Block, Wells Fargo Advisors, Centene Corporation, and O'Reilly Auto Parts. Well-known universities in Missouri include the University of Missouri, Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis. Missouri has been called the "Mother of the West" and the "Cave State", but its most famous nickname is the "Show Me State".
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Humans have inhabited what is now Missouri for at least 12,000 years. The Mississippian culture, which emerged at least in the ninth century, built cities and mounds before declining in the 14th century. When European explorers arrived in the 17th century, they encountered the Osage and Missouria nations. The French incorporated the territory into Louisiana founding Ste. Genevieve in 1735 and St. Louis in 1764. After a brief period of Spanish rule, the United States acquired Missouri as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Americans from the Upland South, including enslaved African Americans, rushed into the new Missouri Territory. Missouri was admitted as a slave state as part of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Many from Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee settled in the Boonslick area of Mid-Missouri. Soon after, heavy German immigration formed the Missouri Rhineland.
Missouri played a central role in the westward expansion of the United States, as memorialized by the Gateway Arch. The Pony Express, Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail and California Trail all began in Missouri. As a border state, Missouri's role in the American Civil War was complex, and it was subject to rival governments, raids, and guerilla warfare. After the war, both Greater St. Louis and the Kansas City metropolitan area became centers of industrialization and business. Today the state is divided into 114 counties and the independent city of St. Louis.
Missouri's culture blends elements of the Midwestern and Southern United States. It is the birthplace of the musical genres ragtime, Kansas City jazz and St. Louis blues. The well-known Kansas City-style barbecue, and the lesser-known St. Louis-style barbecue, can be found across the state and beyond. Missouri is a major center of beer brewing and has some of the most permissive alcohol laws in the U.S. It is home to Anheuser-Busch, the world's largest beer producer, and produces an eponymous wine produced in the Missouri Rhineland and Ozarks. Outside the state's major cities, popular tourist destinations include the Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Branson.
Well-known Missourians include Chuck Berry, Sheryl Crow, Walt Disney, Edwin Hubble, Nelly, Brad Pitt, Harry S. Truman, and Mark Twain. Some of the largest companies based in the state include Cerner, Express Scripts, Monsanto, Emerson Electric, Edward Jones, H&R Block, Wells Fargo Advisors, Centene Corporation, and O'Reilly Auto Parts. Well-known universities in Missouri include the University of Missouri, Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis. Missouri has been called the "Mother of the West" and the "Cave State", but its most famous nickname is the "Show Me State".
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Route Collections in this region Ultimate USA road trip part 09
Michel van Hagen challenged me to follow the Roadtrip of Dr. Randy Olsen as a basis to create the Ultimate USA Road Trip for the MyRoute app RouteXpert Library. I took up that challenge and started in February 2022.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the ninth collection that takes you from Springfield in ten days through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin to Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the ninth collection that takes you from Springfield in ten days through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin to Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
View Route Collection