America’s Heartland - Upper
Mississippi Steamboat Cruises
Steamboating adventures
along the upper Mississippi, Arkansas and Illinois rivers.
 Drawn by stories of incredible opportunities to strike it rich in lumber, fur, wheat or lead mining, thousands of settlers headed to America’s Heartland. Many immigrants had intended to go further west but seeing the fertile fields, rolling hills and clear waters of the region, they decided to end their journey in one of the beautiful states along America’s Heartland rivers.
Today, from Tennessee to Minnesota, Steamboating cruises
will take you to where settlers survived North America’s
greatest earthquake, to trading posts where they made friends
with American Indians, to bustling river  ports
that became great cities, and to fascinating little river
towns where the accents and cuisine bring to mind continental
Europe.
So, come experience America’s Heartland, with all its
rich history and heritage, magnificent landmarks, incredible
natural beauty and heartland people whose courage and character
have shaped their country.
Highlights of the Region
Upper Mississippi River
It begins in the icy depths of Lake Itasca, Minnesota. From a humble
creek, the Upper Mississippi gathers momentum and substance from the
rich soil of Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Flowing nearly nine hundred
miles southward until it merges with the muddy Missouri and joins the
Ohio at Cairo, Illinois, its depth is controlled by a series of locks
and dams as it threads through a scenic panorama of lakes, marshes
and islands.
Illinois River
Formed by the confluence of the Des Plains and the Kankakee rivers, the 273-mile Illinois River is flanked by high bluffs and flows through broad expanses of water that resemble lakes. Its course takes travellers through a favourite hunting and fishing region that Native Americans called ‘Pimiteoui’ (Pee-Mee-Twee) - land of great abundance. Combined with its majestic views and vistas, the Illinois River is now, as it was then, one of the most spectacular attractions in the Land of Lincoln.
Arkansas River
Rolling plains and lush forests characterize the region where the Arkansas
River meets the Mississippi. Along its course, the land looks much
the way it did when pioneers arrived. Instead of going west as many
had intended, they settled here, persuaded by a rich soil, abundant
wildlife, and a climate well-suited to farming.
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Contemporary urban vistas, old-world flavour and native American heritage
give the twin cities an atmosphere that harmonizes perfectly with the
scenic splendour of timber and water.
Hannibal, Missouri
The boyhood home of Samuel Clemens - better known as Mark Twain - the town is a monument to its famous son and his characters, with statues, museums and memorabilia.
St. Louis, Missouri
Largest city in the state and ‘Gateway to the West’, it was chartered
in 1822 and became an important port during the steamboat
era.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Founded in 1820 as Mount Marie, this is where the world’s biggest cotton
plantation was once located and where some of the first shots of the
Civil War were fired.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Largest city in the state, it was founded in 1821, in an area well-known
to explorers and fur-trappers. The city is famous for its restored
Capital Hotel and historic Quapaw Quarter and the hometown of former President Clinton.
Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas
Breathtaking park with springs, streams, and dramatic geological formations,
this area was named for a French girl who disguised herself as a boy
so she could go to America with her sweetheart.
Beardstown, Illinois
Historic Lincoln County is famous for Cass County Courthouse. Still used
today, Abraham Lincoln practiced law here.
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