Burlington, Iowa museum tells the story of Des Moines County
MADISON, Wis. [October 5, 2017] – The Mississippi River Parkway Commission is excited to announce the addition of a new interpretive center to serve visitors along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway.
The commission, which met in September, voted to allow the Heritage Center Museum of Iowa, operated by the Des Moines County Historical Society, to become a designated Great River Road interpretive center. There are currently more than 75 interpretive centers along the Mighty Mississippi, made up of museums and historic sites that showcase and preserve the stories of the Great River Road.
The Heritage Center Museum, located in Burlington, Iowa hosts more than 2,400 visitors a year. Museum goers can learn about native prairie plants, thousands of years of Native American history, early American and European settlements and the role of the railroad and the river in the making of Des Moines County. The museum is also home to “Catfish Corners,” a children’s area where kids can experience what it was like to live in Burlington during the 1830s, complete with a mock steamship, log cabin and general store.
The Heritage Center Museum joins the ranks of other nearby interpretive centers in Iowa such as the Muscatine History & Industry Center in Muscatine, Toolesboro Indian Mounds & Museum in Wapello, Old Fort Madison in Fort Madison and a dozen more historical and educational stops created to share the storied history of the Great River Road.
The Great River Road was formed in 1938. Choosing to conserve precious resources, among them land, time and dollars, the governors of the 10 river states decided rather than building a new continuous road, the existing network of rural roads and then-fledgling highways that meandered and crisscrossed the river would become the Great River Road. The green Pilot’s Wheel road sign that marked the route of the new byway more than seven decades ago still heralds the road today.
As one of the oldest, longest and most unique scenic byways in North America, the Great River Road offers respite to millions of travelers seeking a getaway – from a leisurely day’s drive to an extended vacation. Nearly 3,000 miles long and running through 10 states along the Mississippi River, the Great River Road has offered a gateway to the river valley’s great history, the blending of cultures and a host of recreational options to all who journey it for three-quarters of a century and counting.
Plan a day’s drive or a month-long excursion along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway with the help of experiencemississippiriver.com. Here you’ll find information on all the states’ interpretive centers, upcoming events and must-see attractions, along with suggested itineraries and maps to help plan a trip that’s just right for you. There’s even a free, turn-by-turn navigational app available for download on iPhone and Android. Find the Great River Road on Facebook and Pinterest too!
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