To tell visitors the story of the Camp River Dubois and the newly formed Corps of Discovery, the 14,000-square-foot visitor’s center presents the often-untold story of the Illinois portion of the Expedition. Construction of the center began in October 2000 in an area similar to that of the original Camp River Dubois on the south side of the Wood River, where the men of the Corps lived from December 1803 to May 1804.
In 1757 the French erected a fort and named it Fort Ascension near the mouth of the Tennessee River. It was strengthened in 1759 and renamed Fort Massiac in honor of a French minister. In 1765, under terms of a recently signed treaty, they surrendered it to the British. In 1778, George Rogers Clark, the older brother of William Clark, and his men captured the fort.
The Chester Welcome Center is located adjacent to the Chester Bridge on a bluff above the Mississippi River. A Lewis and Clark marker with history about Lewis and Clark and their voyage of discovery is located on the grounds. The deck of the Welcome Center provides an amazing view of the river and bridge. It is a very good place to get information about local attractions and to take a break when you’re on your journey.
In the village of Hartford, Illinois, the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower rises an impressive 150 feet above the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, the two longest rivers in all North America. Built to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, construction on the monument was completed on May 14, 2010.
Less than two miles from Fort Defiance State Park sits the Cairo Custom House Museum. The building, built in 1872, is full of history about the surrounding region, as well as being of historical significance itself. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Cairo Custom House was originally used as the location for collecting tariffs on imports being traded along the Mississippi River.
The Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site is located in Cahokia, Illinois. The courthouse now serves as a museum and historic site. Three exhibit rooms depict cases the court handled around 1800 and the French-roots of the structure. A fourth room is refurbished to represent the courtroom of 1790.
Located at the southern tip of Illinois along the Ohio River, Fort Massac State Park offers travelers everything from camping, hiking and hunting, to boating and fishing. With a rich history that stretches back well before the Revolutionary War, Fort Massac is the site where, in November 1803, the Corps of Discovery added George Drouillard to its expedition.
