CONFLUENCE TOWER Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
"eye like an eagle & tall as a mountain was he" the only correlation to this phrase is i saw an eagle near here & the monument is as tall as a mountain. but having an eagle eye won't hurt.
this cache is a "bino" i have had for along while. good luck & cache on if not
A soaring monument to the Lewis and Clark Expedition is now open to the public, ending 10 years of persistence and frustration.
The idea of a "viewing tower" overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers first arose in a community group's brainstorming sessions in 2000. It was proposed as a complement to the nearby Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, which commemorates Camp Dubois, the expedition party's 1803-04 winter camp.
Early on, community leaders hoped to have the tower ready to open by late 2006, when a latter-day Corps of Discovery, re-enacting the expedition on the occasion of its 200th anniversary, would return to the area.
By 2004, village officials had cobbled together nearly $3 million in local and state money for the $5.4 million project. But the amount needed to finish it has been acquired only sporadically from donors and state and federal sources.
Preliminary site work began in late 2003. The twin 180-foot shafts of the tower were completed in late 2004, but much work remained: restrooms, walkways, a welcome center, an elevator, a parking lot, and railings for the observation decks were among the features needed to accommodate the public. Some of those items are being completed only now.
The concrete-and-glass tower has observation decks at 50, 100 and 150 feet. The tower symbolizes expedition leaders Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and the observation decks symbolize three phases of the expedition.
The view from the tower is panoramic and includes not only the confluence but also the St. Louis and Clayton skylines, and the Clark Bridge at Alton.
The tower sits on 4.5 acres along Illinois Route 3 near Piasa Lane. The site is bordered by the Confluence Bike Trail.
There are interpretive signage and exhibits that will tell the stories of the expedition and its leaders, the significance of the rivers, the history of Hartford and local industries, and the communities and attractions along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, which stretches along the Mississippi from Hartford to Grafton.
Initial plans called for the tower to be open for public viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Admission fees will be $4 for adults and $2 for children, with group rates available.
Hartford officials hope to add more features, including trails and picnic shelters, to the site.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures