Parks around Fairview Heights

Travel through urban cityscapes, cozy riverfront towns, and rolling prairie on Illinois' 179-mile portion of the Lincoln Highway. From its eastern portal at Lynwood to its Mississippi crossing at Fulton, entertainment and adventure can be found around every corner. The Illinois Lincoln Highway is designated as a National Scenic Byway, and is the only state on the entire Lincoln Highway route to ac...

The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.

CPR houses the Official Personnel Folders (OPF) and Employee Medical Folders (EMF) of separated Federal civilian employees. CPR also houses personnel documents that date back to the mid-nineteenth century, although the bulk of the collection covers the period from 1900 to present. The medical records of military family members treated at Army, Air Force and Coast Guard medical facilities are als...

Ulysses S. Grant is known as the victorious Civil War general who saved the Union and the 18th President of the United States. He first met Julia Dent, his future wife, at her family home, named White Haven. From 1854 to 1859 the Dents, Grants and an enslaved African-American workforce lived on the property.

Beautiful bluffs tower over the byway as permanent sentinels for the great river. Whether directly along the banks of the river or winding through the vast flood plain, Illinois presents its own flavor of the mighty Mississippi through its wildlife, farmland products, and four centuries of history and heritage.

Water-oriented outdoor recreation opportunities including camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, and hunting. Expecially attractive to sailboaters. Illinois' largest lake.

The 8,501-acre Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge is one of five refuges in the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Formerly known as the Brussels District of Mark Twain Refuge, most of Two Rivers Refuge is located near the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. The refuge is comprised of five divisions: Apple Creek, Batchtown, Calhoun, Gilbert Lake, and Portage Islan...

The Rivers Project is responsible for the operation and maintenance of five dams and seven locks, 300 miles of dikes and revetment and 110,000 acres of public lands and waters for the authorized purpose of maintaining a nine-foot navigation channel on the Upper Mississippi River, and the lower 80 miles of the Illinois River. The Rivers Project recognizes and manages the multi-purpose use of these ...

In 1926, America was on the move and Route 66 was the way to "motor west." The road gave birth to service stations, motels, diners and of course, often kitschy roadside attractions. Today, Illinois 66 is a continuum of one-of-a-kind connections to the old road in America's agricultural heartland.

Represents the head of navigation for the Corps of Engineers Nine Foot Navigation Project and is located in downtown Minneapolis. The USAF Visitor Center is located at the Upper Lock and is open to the public year around. The Visitor Center provides an excellent view of the historic falls, the Minneapolis skyline and the historic mill ruins along the banks of the river. This area is within the ...

The 3,750-acre Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge is located in the floodplain of the Mississippi River, adjacent to Pool No. 25. The refuge's diversity of habitats supports waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and songbirds. Although it is protected by a levee, the refuge provides flood storage in periods of high water. Clarence Cannon Refuge is managed by Great River National Wildlif...

The Great River National Wildlife Refuge protects approximately 11,600 acres along 120 miles of the Mississippi River, stretching north of St. Louis, Missouri. Three separate units are located in the floodplain, on both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river. In 1998, the Great River Refuge was designated as a globally important bird area, due to its value to shorebirds, songbirds, and w...

Rend Lake, IL, located in the heart of southern Illinois, is a natural haven for wildlife and a recreational haven for visitors. Rend Lake consists of 18,900 acres of water and 20,000 acres of land. Campers will delight in the nearly 800 sites found in 5 public campgrounds on Rend Lake. Boaters are provided access to the lake through the numerous boat ramps. Beaches, picnic sites and trails pr...

Located in the upper end of the lower Mississippi River valley, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, at 21,676 acres, is the only large remnant of bottomland hardwoods remaining out of an original 2 1/2 million acres in the Missouri bootheel. A major migration and wintering area for migratory waterfowl, populations of 125,000 mallards and 75,000 Canada geese have been recorded. Bald eagles have been su...

Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge, located twenty miles west of Springfield in Lawrence County, MO, was acquired in 1991 to protect a Federally endangered species, the Ozark cavefish. Turnback Creek Cave Spring is located on this property and is the outlet of an underground stream known to contain a population of the endangered Ozark cavefish. The forty-acre refuge is managed by staff at Mi...

Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge is located on top of Pilot Knob Mountain in Iron County, MO. It was acquired by donation from the Pilot Knob Ore Company on July 22, 1987 for conservation purposes. The 90-acre refuge contains iron mine shafts created in the mid-1800s which are critical habitat for the Federally endangered Indiana bat and gray bat. Bats enter the shafts in the fall to hibern...

The Clear Springs Wilderness now contains a total of 4,730 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Illinois. In 1990 the Clear Springs Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of...

The Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge was established on May 31, 2000. It has three divisions - Meissner Island, near Valmeyer, Illinois; Harlow Island, near Festus, Missouri; and Wilkinson Island, near Gorham, Illinois. The refuge headquarters is co-located with Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. "Middle Miss" Refuge is part of the Mark Twain National Wildlife Ref...

The Bald Knob Wilderness now contains a total of 5,863 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Illinois. In 1990 the Bald Knob Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "...inc...

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge's 44,000 acres of land and water contain a wide diversity of flora and fauna. Major habitat types on the refuge include hardwood forest, agricultural land, grazing units, brushland, wetlands, and lakes. The refuge provides significant resting areas for migratory birds utilizing the Mississippi Flyway. Wintering numbers of Canada Geese can peak at 200,...

The Bell Mountain Wilderness now contains a total of 8,987 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Missouri. In 1980 the Bell Mountain Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of...

The Rockpile Mountain Wilderness now contains a total of 4,089 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Missouri. In 1980 the Rockpile Mountain Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In a...

The Crab Orchard Wilderness now contains a total of 4,050 acres and is managed by the Fish & Wildlife Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Illinois. In 1976 the Crab Orchard Wilderness became part of the now over 110 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an...

Abraham Lincoln believed in the ideal that everyone in America should have the opportunity to improve his/her economic and social condition. Lincoln's life was the embodiment of that idea. We know him as the sixteenth president but he was also a spouse, parent, and neighbor who experienced the same hopes, dreams, and challenges of life that are still experienced by many people.

The Panther Den Wilderness now contains a total of 774 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Illinois. In 1990 the Panther Den Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "...i...