Alton Illinois

Architectural Historic and River Trails

Alton is located 25 Miles north of St. Louis amid the confluence of three navigable rivers, the Mississippi, the Illinois and the Missouri, as a river trading and industrial town whose waterfront features concrete grain silos and railroad tracks for the shipping of grains and produce. Once the site of several brick factories, Alton’s streets are paved in brick along with many commercial buildings located downtown. The Great Rivers Region is accessible from six interstates, an international airport and an Amtrak station.

Historic Trails Alton’s Civil War and Lincoln Legacy Trail features costumed docents at sites throughout the city revealing Alton’s legacy through personal tales along with the Underground Railroad, where runaway slaves were hidden in caves, barns and basements. The Alton Museum of History and Art has special exhibits relating to Alton’s connection to the Civil War era. 

The Legendary Piasa Bird Painted on the Bluffs above the Mississippi River

Industrial Museums learn refinery operations and how products such as gasoline, jet fuel, propane and asphalt are made at the Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery and Museum. The Mississippi Mud Pottery features artists as they demonstrate the molding of their unique pottery. At the National Great Rivers Museum and Melvin Price Locks & Dam feature the importance of the river system to America’s economy.

River Trails where great rivers converge with great moments in history at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Confluence Tower; learn how they planned their journey west.

Hartford is at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and point of departure for Lewis and Clark.
Elsah continuing up the Great River Road and marvel at the numerous buildings that still exist. Most of the houses and building in the village were built in the mid- to late 1800s

.

The Entire Village of Elsah is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Grafton’s riverfront was packed with manufacturing companies, mills, quarries, loading docks, and riverboat traffic in the 1800s. Today, it is a tourist destination with its specialty shops and wineries.

Architecture Trails many blocks of housing in Alton were built in the Victorian Queen Anne style during the prosperous period in the river city's history at the top of the hill in the commercial area, several stone churches and city hall.

The Middletown Historic District was the center of wealth in the early days of Alton with homes reflecting the wealth of families and their descendants that led Alton society for more than a century. Brick sidewalks connect a park with a Victorian playhouse and an area called Insuranceville.

Upper Alton Historic District a cultural and educational center, Upper Alton was once a separate town anchored by a former military academy and the oldest continuously used educational buildings in Illinois.

A New Orleans Travel Experience

architecture creative culture history and traditions

The original settlement of New Orleans and the oldest neighborhood in the city is Vieux Carre, better known as the French Quarter. Established by the French in 1718, the location continues to be a valuable site for trade due to its strategic position along the Mississippi River. The district is a National Historic Landmark and is bordered by popular streets, such as Canal, Decatur and Rampart Streets and Esplanade Avenue. The French Quarter boasts cultural contributions from the French, Spanish, Italians, Africans, Irish and others – as demonstrated by the development of New Orleans as a global port.

Architecture is a dominant feature throughout the neighborhood; balconies adorned with intricate ironwork, courtyards filled with lush greenery and beautiful fountains showcase the French Quarter's European roots, mostly the handiwork of the Spanish who ruled and rebuilt the city after two large fires in 1788 and 1794. Many buildings have ceramic plaques with the street names during Spanish rule.

Landmarks Jackson Square, originally known as the Place d'Armes, was renamed to honor Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans. The square is flanked by historic structures such as the St. Louis Cathedral, the Presbytere and Cabildo, which house the Louisiana State Museums, and the Pontalba Apartments - the oldest apartment buildings in the United States.
 

The Creative Culture of the Quarter is embraced by the collection of fortune tellers, artists and musicians who surround Jackson Square. Just across the street is the famed Cafe’ du Monde, serving up beignets and café au lait 24 hours a day. Every street has something unique to offer from classic restaurants, music venues, boutiques and voodoo temples. The most popular streets are: Royal, Chartres and Bourbon, along with the historic French Market.

New Orleans Homes

Creole Cottage these signature single-story homes with steeply pitched roofs have front porches that practically touch the street; present in the French Quarter.

American Townhouse a narrow brick or stucco three-story structure, asymmetrical windows and an iron balcony on the second or third floor; present in the Central Business and Garden Districts.

Creole Townhouse with shops below and homes above, these buildings are the perfect arrangement for the thriving urban center. Arched windows distinguish Creole from American townhouses.

Raised Centerhall Cottage one-and-a-half-story homes raised slightly above street-level and a porch stretching all the way across the front with columns; present in Garden, Uptown and Carrollton.

Shotgun House easy to spot with long and narrow single-story homes with lacey Victorian embellishment beneath the large front eve; present throughout the city.

Double Gallery House stacked and covered front porches, stately box columns and a front door off to one side; present in the Garden District, Uptown and Esplanade Ridge.

Arts and Culture New Orleans' Old World roots have created a strong foundation and long-standing appreciation for the arts. Early residents of the city often traveled back to Europe for musical instruction or training in the visual arts, and operatic performances took place in the city as early as 1796. Today the city has countless galleries, performance spaces and museums.

Museums

The Historic New Orleans Collection located in the French Quarter, this collection is the best introduction to New Orleans history. Four exhibition spaces depict the multicultural stories of the region, from permanent displays on the evolution of Louisiana to rotating art and history exhibits.

The Cabildo the flagship building of The Louisiana State Museum is the site of the Louisiana Purchase. It served as the Louisiana State Supreme Court until 1908 and was the location of the landmark decision in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1892. Today it houses exhibitions on the Purchase and on Louisiana history. 

Madame John's Legacy an excellent example of Louisiana Creole residential design at the end of the 18^th century. The architectural complex consists of three buildings: the main house, kitchen with cook quarters and a two-story garconniere. It is part of The Louisiana State Museum. 

The 1850 House an example of antebellum architecture in New Orleans, it offers a glimpse of middle- and upper-class life during the most prosperous period in New Orleans' history. The house is a part of the Lower Pontalba Building, which was built by the Baroness Pontalba. 

The African American Museum of Art Culture and History located in the historic Faubourg Tremé, one of America's oldest black neighborhoods, and comprised of 7 historic buildings.  

The National World War II Museum features a 4D cinematic experience, interactive exhibits, soaring aircraft, personal histories and more.