Ohio River Scenic Byway of Illinois
"Life is short. Take the Scenic Route!"
Introduction
Come
visit beautiful southern Illinois and explore the many wonders of
the Ohio River Scenic Byway (ORSB), with its rich historic heritage,
the spectacular
Shawnee National Forest, and the beautiful Ohio
River.
ORSB proudly represents the seven counties of Gallatin, Saline, Hardin, Pope, Massac, Pulaski and Alexander. Each county is chock full of history, outdoor adventure, endless recreation opportunities and awesome scenery. The Byway corridor is unique in its blend of fascinating things to do and see during a day, a week or even a month’s vacation!
The
Illinois portion of the Byway, between the Wabash and Mississippi
Rivers, offers breathtaking vistas in any season and an abundance of
historical sites, from Old Shawneetown, the original "gateway to the
west", to Cairo (pronounced "Kay-ro") and Fort Defiance at the
confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
The
Ohio River Scenic Byway (ORSB) is a 1998 federal designation
from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
National Scenic
Byways Program. FHWA recognizes routes that are outstanding
examples of our nation’s scenic, historical, cultural, and
recreational experiences by designating them as National Scenic
Byways. This designation was established to promote tourism,
recreation, economic development, and appreciation of natural and
man-made points of interest in communities along the Ohio River.
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