Located in the Village of Hartford, Illinois, the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower rises an impressive 185-feet above the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, the two longest rivers in North America. Built to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, construction on the monument was completed on May 14, 2010. Since its doors opened to the public very few updates have been made to the site to keep with the visitor economy.

The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau was awarded a $10 Million Capital Grant from the State of Illinois to create new visitor experiences along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. The Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower will undergo major renovations, park expansion, public art installations, an expanded and updated visitor center experience, and a new playscape area for kids that will celebrate the Lewis & Clark expedition and the American Bottoms. The project is scheduled to be completed by late Spring of 2026. It is being funded with nearly $3 Million of the Capital Grant.

How does it related to the Lewis & Clark expedition you ask? Well, in many ways, the sight was the first step of what would become known as the Lewis & Clark Expedition. In December of 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark established a camp at Wood River, otherwise known as Camp Dubois. Located along the Mississippi River between St. Louis and the modern-day Confluence Tower, the camp served as the winter quarters for the two men and those who joined them on their journey. Here, they spend the winter gathering supplies and recruiting other intrepid explorers from the area. In May of 1804, the group embarked on their historic journey westward from the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

For those who would like a bird-eye-view of the area, the Confluence Tower has 360-degree observation decks at 50, 100 and 150-feet. All three levels are accessible by elevator or stairs. Exhibits focused on Lewis and Clark and the importance of the Mississippi-Missouri confluence can be found on every level. Guests can also request a brief guided tour that ends with a trip to the highest level of the structure. On particularly clear days, parts of St. Louis and the Gateway Arch can be seen from the upper decks.