THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THE GREAT RIVER ROAD

St. Paul, MN — "The river was an awful solitude, then. And it is now, over its stretch . . . the great Mississippi, rolling in its mile-wide tide along, shining in the sun, the dense forest away on the other side . . . bounding the river glimpse and turning it into a sort of sea . . . and a very still and beautiful one."

Mark Twain used these words to describe one of the greatest natural resources and most scenic waterways anywhere to be found. A river that is the third longest river in the world with a watershed that drains nearly two-thirds of the entire United States and parts of Canada.

Mississippi River Country is rich in history, culture, natural resources and scenic beauty. The Mississippi River is a flyway for millions of waterfowl each year and also serves as a major transportation artery, carrying products from our nation's mid-section to markets throughout the world.

Some of the richest farmland in the world is found along the Mississippi River. The Mississippi supports a string of large metropolitan areas, medium-sized cities and small towns. Many of these communities depend on the River to provide drinking water and satisfy agricultural needs.

The Mississippi River provides an unlimited opportunity for recreation and serves as a catalyst for business and industry in the Mississippi River states.

One of the earliest regional efforts to preserve and promote the scenic, historic, and natural resources of the Mississippi River valley began with the creation of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission. The Commission was established in 1938 at the urging of the governors of the Mississippi River states to focus attention on the resources of the Mississippi River valley.

The early planning efforts of the Commission led to the development of a scenic parkway along the Mississippi River known as the Great River Road. The concept of the Great River Road was initiated to develop a Mississippi River highway/corridor which would provide access to the River's Major scenic, recreation and historic areas, while preserving the special quality of the valley.

The province of Ontario became involved in the program in the 1950s because of the joint cultural ties of the Mississippi River states and Canada and because of the mutual interests in tourism and economic development. The Great River Road was extended north from the headwaters in northern Minnesota all the way to its northern terminus in Minaki, Ontario.

Today, the Great River Road is a 3,000 mile network of federal, state and county roads on both sides of the Mississippi River from Canada to the Gulf. The Great River Road crisscrosses the River at various points and quietly travels through woodlands, river towns, peaceful farmland, and some of the most scenic areas in the north and south.

Working closely with the Commission in the development of the Great River Road is the Great River Road Association. The Association is the grass roots membership arm of the Commission that is comprised of private individuals, businesses, and organizations who wish to support cooperative efforts to further preserve

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and enhance the scenic, historic, recreational and cultural resources of the region.

The tourism offices of the ten Mississippi River states are also involved with the Commission spearheading efforts to promote the region in domestic and international markets. Mississippi River Country is the marketing name used by the Commission's marketing committee to increase awareness of the travel opportunities in the region to markets throughout the world.

The Mississippi River Parkway Commission, the Great River Road Association, and the Mississippi River Country Marketing Committee all worked together to produce a map of the Mississippi River and the Great River Road. This map was designed to meet the needs of both consumers and foreign tour operators.

The Great River Road map depicts the complete routing of the Great River Road from Canada to the Gulf, while showing the perspective of the region as a whole. The map provides references to major connecting roads and cities in each of the ten states and gives the user a sampling of some of the major attractions to be found in the Mississippi River valley.

For a copy of the Great River Road map please write to the Great River Road Association, Pioneer Building, Suite 1513, 336 Robert Street, St. Paul, MN 55101. Donations of $1.00 per map are greatly appreciated. •

Page 12 / Illinois Municipal Review / June 1992