Rock Island: Mississippi, Nature and Culture

The Mississippi River shapes many experiences in Rock Island County: you can go boating on the river or take a scenic cruise with the Channel Cat Water Taxi or Celebration Cruise Line. Operators and schedules may change; check the dates when planning a trip. There are also various ways to experience the area on land – cycling, inline skating, jogging or walking along riverside paths.

River Routes and Trails

The American Discovery Trail crosses the Mississippi River at Arsenal Island into Rock Island County, where it connects with the Illinois Great River Trail. The trail stretches 62 miles from Rock Island’s Sunset Marina to Savanna. The Great River Trail passes the Quad City Botanical Center. Another route to follow is the Great River Road: its Illinois section runs through the county along the river via Route 84 and Illinois 92.

At Illiniwek Forest Preserve, two trail options differ in length and character. The multi-use woodland trails include five miles of singletrack with scenic overlooks. The Prairie Trail, by contrast, is a 0.9-mile grass trail with eleven interpretive panels. Loud Thunder Forest Preserve is also home to Lake George, a man-made lake covering 167 acres, reaching depths of up to 55 feet and stocked with numerous fish species. The approximately 12-mile Sac-Fox Trail is a continuous loop hike of moderate difficulty. It passes through Loud Thunder Forest Preserve and a small part of the adjacent Loud Thunder Boy Scout Camp.

Natural Areas and Gardens

Several protected areas offer a variety of landscapes. Martin Conservation Area covers 240 acres along the Illinois Great River Road and combines mature oak forest with native prairies. Visitors can explore about 179 acres of protected land at Amôwa Forest Preserve, which preserves habitat for native pollinators. Black Hawk State Historic Site is a 213-acre park that showcases the cultural history and natural resources of the Quad Cities. Trails there run along the Rock River and through a nature preserve.

The Quad City Botanical Center also brings together several garden areas: the Children’s Garden features a mini Mississippi River, sandboxes and the Storybook Landscapes area. The Sun Garden is home to plants from tropical habitats around the world. The Hennepin Canal State Trail, meanwhile, stretches across five Illinois counties, including Rock Island County.

Cultural History Along the Mississippi

At Black Hawk State Historic Site, visitors can learn about the history of Black Hawk and the Sauk and Meskwaki at the John Hauberg Museum. The Rock Island Arsenal Museum opened to the public on July 4, 1905, and is the second-oldest museum in the U.S. Army. It collects, preserves and interprets the history of Rock Island Arsenal and Arsenal Island. Exhibit topics include the roles of different populations, innovative manufacturing processes and modern military equipment in the island’s history; exhibit topics may change.

The Colonel Davenport House was built in 1833–1834 for George Davenport and his family on Arsenal Island, an island in the Mississippi River owned by the U.S. federal government. Rock Island National Cemetery and Confederate Cemetery also tell different chapters of history: the national cemetery is one of the 20 oldest in the United States and contains nearly 30,000 burials. Confederate Cemetery is the only surviving remnant of Rock Island Prison Barracks, one of 21 Union Army prisoner-of-war camps during the American Civil War.

More Things to Do

The Mississippi River Visitor Center offers views of Locks and Dam 15, the lock system, the Government Bridge and river traffic. Locks and Dam 15 was the first project completed on the Upper Mississippi River as part of the 9-Foot Channel Project. On the Rock River in Rock Island, the Backwater Gamblers put on free water-ski shows from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; check show dates when planning your visit.

Niabi Zoo is home to more than 600 animals representing nearly 150 species on 40 acres of woodland preserve; animal populations may change. Themed tours cover adaptations, biodiversity, habitats, Africa, cats, reptiles and careers at the zoo; tour offerings may change. For winter sports, Snowstar Winter Sports Park near Andalusia offers skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and ziplining. Facilities include 15 ski and snowboard runs and a 28-acre terrain park with more than 20 features.

Discover more destinations: Moline, Rock Island, Coal Valley, East Moline, White County, Hancock County, Mclean County, Iroquois County.

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