Once an automobile bridge stretching 5,300 feet over the wild Mississippi River, the Chain of Rocks Bridge, built in 1929, stretches between Granite City in southwest Illinois and the outskirts of St. Louis in eastern Missouri. Known for an unusual 30 degree turn in its middle, the bridge gets its name from a natural feature of the Mississippi just south of the bridge- a chain of rocks that drops several feet in a shallow area of the river and creates a series of rapids.

Nearby the bridge, in the middle of the river, are two historic towers. These towers are actually water pumps for the City of St. Louis and were built in the late 1800s to provide clean drinking water to area residents. The first tower, built in 1894, is designed in a Romanesque style with a pointed roof and is still in use today. The second tower, built in 1915, was built in Roman Renaissance Style and has rounder features. Used at one time to house workers complete with living quarters, tower two is now automated and serves as a backup for tower one.

Restored as a footbridge by Trailnet in 1998, the well-known Route 66 destination is now a gathering place for pedestrians and cyclists and has even been featured in marathons and cycling events. The Chain of Rocks Bridge is the perfect backdrop for a unique photo op and is now one of the few pedestrian-only bridges that cross the great rivers.