Ohio River Scenic Byway of Illinois
"Life is short. Take the Scenic Route!"
Introduction (page 3)
Today, Golconda, listed on the
National Register of Historic Places,
is also famous for its 603-acre marina-gateway to the
Smithland Pool
and one of the best fishing spots in the Midwest.
Onward to
Metropolis
then Cairo, the byway will also take you to the
home of the ‘Man of Steel’. The only city in the U.S. named
Metropolis, the city has adopted Superman as its favorite son! The
Town Square boasts a 15 ft. statue of this hero. Leave your
kryptonite at home, and come on in to the Super Museum in Metropolis
to see its $2.5 million collection. Save some time to try your luck at
Harrah’s Casino for a bit of Las Vegas.
As you follow the river out
of Metropolis toward Cairo, you'll
pass
the
Mound City National Cemetery, burial site for Union and
Confederate soldiers. Cairo was a strategic site during the
Civil War and served as headquarters for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.
Visit the Custom House Museum and Safford Memorial Library.
A fitting place to end, (or begin) the scenic
drive is Fort
Defiance Park, now owned and maintained by the city of Cairo. From the observation deck you can
watch the blue waters of the Ohio flow into the muddy waters of the
Mississippi.