Title: National Great Rivers Museum in Alton | Expedia.co.uk [National Great Rivers Museum Hotels](https://expedia.co.uk/National-Great-Rivers-Museum-Hotels.0-l6142452-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels)[Flights to Alton](https://expedia.co.uk/Cheap-Flights-To-Alton.d6108.Travel-Guide-Flights)[National Great Rivers Museum Car Hire](https://expedia.co.uk/Compare-Cheap-Car-Hire-In-National-Great-Rivers-Museum.d6142452.Car-Hire-Guide)[Alton Holidays](https://expedia.co.uk/Alton.d6108.Holidays-City-Breaks) # National Great Rivers Museum ![National Great Rivers Museum](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6142452/dda4a6d7-a095-48b7-bbb9-b3885006718c.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![National Great Rivers Museum](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6142452/dda4a6d7-a095-48b7-bbb9-b3885006718c.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![National Great Rivers Museum which includes interior views](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6142452/64db362e-4fa3-4ac8-ae07-ab57adae0a43.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![National Great Rivers Museum](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6142452/91f8f2b0-b5e3-4737-abb7-aa754213ce79.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![National Great Rivers Museum showing interior views](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6142452/8e1199d4-3733-43d5-a282-af6edb034e10.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ## Visit National Great Rivers Museum Activities [Alton travel guide](https://expedia.co.uk/Alton.dx6108) --- --- #### Next to the wide Mississippi River is a museum filled with activities and displays explaining the history and importance of the river. Learn all about the mighty Mississippi River at National Great Rivers Museum. Over a dozen exhibits of different types provide information about the past, present and future of the river and its inhabitants. The museum is located near the confluence of three rivers: the Missouri, the Illinois and the upper Mississippi. Learn about the Melvin Price locks and dam, built in 1989 to replace an earlier structure. Take a tour of the locks and look down on tows guiding barges while raptors fly along the shoreline. Inside the museum, stand in the life-size replica of a towboat pilothouse where you can try steering a barge under a bridge and through a lock. Operate the Stairway for Boats exhibit. Try to control the water levels in four stair-stepped pools simulating how water levels are controlled in the locks. Another exhibit explains how and why the locks along the Mississippi River were designed and built by the Army Corps of Engineers. Communities: Habitats of the Mississippi depicts the three ecozones of river habitats: the river, its floodplains and its bluffs. Learn about the plants, animals and birds that live in these different habitats. Bald eagles are often sighted flying nearby early in the year during nesting season. In the museum aquarium, view the longnose gar and shovelnose sturgeon as they have appeared in the river since the Jurassic period. River Timelineis a large display showing the history of the Mississippi itself. Mississippi in Motion shows how river forces have changed the course of the river over time. Learn about sedimentation, moving water and the Mississippi River watershed. Ecology exhibits explain the importance of water quality and quantity and describe why limiting personal water consumption is important for conserving overall water resources. The National Great Rivers Museum is in Alton, Illinois, about a 30-minute drive north of St. Louis, Missouri. Join one of the lock tours, which take about 45 to 60 minutes and are provided three times daily. Museum entrance and locks tours are free. Visit the museum during the Great Rivers Festival in June for music, crafts and activities. ### Popular places to visit ![Alton featuring a statue or sculpture](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635810300718/f56c5871-f000-476f-a376-f5299b4c0758.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Lincoln Douglas Square Stand in the presence of U.S. history, on the spot where Lincoln and Douglas debated as statesmen two years prior to a presidential race that changed everything. [](https://expedia.co.uk/Lincoln-Douglas-Square-Alton.d553248635810300718.Attraction) ![Alton which includes a statue or sculpture and a park](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635919228114/bdd80ea0-b6a2-439f-9e20-cae51a79f566.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Robert Wadlow Statue Stretch your neck muscles and gaze up at this life-size bronze statue of the World’s Tallest Man, with walking cane in hand and a smile gracing his face. [](https://expedia.co.uk/Robert-Wadlow-Statue-Alton.d553248635919228114.Attraction) ![Alton featuring heritage elements](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248621532648634/af07d8e9-e14f-4258-adcf-a1f7f8d13d97.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Alton Prison See the remains of a prison which was built over 150 years ago and which housed Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. [](https://expedia.co.uk/Alton-Prison-Alton.d553248621532648634.Attraction) ![Sunset over the mighty Mississippi from Riverview Park in Alton, Illinois. Added bonus - At the park's gazebo, sunset was accompanied by a band was playing Star Wars and other sci-fi and superhero theme songs.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6108/55e89b4e-2554-4fe2-96b8-4001d731235a.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh) #### Riverview Park After visiting Riverview Park, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Alton. Visit the shops in this family-friendly area or simply enjoy its restaurants. [](https://expedia.co.uk/Riverview-Park-Alton.d911400738257997824.Attraction) #### Ellis Island Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Ellis Island during your travels in West Alton. While you're in the area, wander around the parks. [](https://expedia.co.uk/Ellis-Island-West-Alton.d911405130054983680.Attraction) #### Fast Eddie's Bon Air You can search for that perfect souvenir at Fast Eddie's Bon Air during your visit to Alton. Visit the shops in this family-friendly area or simply enjoy its restaurants. 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