Massac County: Discover History and Nature

At the southern tip of Illinois, Fort Massac State Park overlooks the Ohio River. Trip themes range from history and the Superman tradition in Metropolis to cypress swamps, river views, cycling and scuba diving. When planning, you can choose different focuses, from culture and nature to activities.

History and Culture

Kincaid Mounds State Historic Site is designated a National Historic Landmark. Members of the Mississippian culture inhabited Kincaid Mounds from approximately 1050 to 1400 AD. Public access to Kincaid Mounds is currently limited to an observation and information terrace beside Kincaid Mounds Road. The Fort Massac Visitor Center offers a video about the fort’s history, as well as artifact exhibits.

Metropolis offers a different cultural focus. The Super Museum opened at Superman Square in 1993 and houses a Superman collection spanning more than 60 years. A 15-foot-tall Superman statue stands in Metropolis. Six murals are located downtown along Ferry Street and Market Street; interpretive plaques describe the historical significance of each one.

Metropolis is known as Superman’s hometown and hosts the annual Superman Celebration in summer. Another seasonal experience is a U-pick tulip farm, where 50,000 tulips bloom in spring. If you specifically want to experience the Celebration, check the event dates before your trip.

River Landscapes, Swamps and Activities

The George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail is an 8.7-mile biking and walking trail. It connects Metropolis and Brookport through Massac County and Fort Massac State Park, offering views of the Ohio River and wooded floodplains.

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is an old cypress swamp covering 2,630 acres in total, including 690 acres of water. A half-mile interpretive trail has tree-identification markers, and a small boardwalk leads into the cypress swamp. Mermet Swamp is a wooded floodplain swamp characterized by young cypress trees. It has information signs, a trail and parking.

Mermet Springs is a full-service dive center and scuba training facility. Lessons and equipment rentals are available on site. Scuba diving is therefore an activity with a very different focus from cultural sites, bike trails or paths through swamp landscapes.

Two Different Trail Formats

The lengths and purposes of the two trails help you choose: the George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail is considerably longer than the half-mile interpretive trail at Mermet Lake. The biking and walking trail connects two towns and offers river and floodplain views; the interpretive trail focuses on tree identification and the small boardwalk into the cypress swamp. This lets you choose between a longer connecting route and a shorter, more focused trail.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Metropolis, Joppa. Morgan, Lasalle, Ogle County, Franklin County, Jo Daviess County, Clark County.

For the main travel overview: Illinois.