Mississippi County: Wetlands and River History

Wetlands, Mississippi River shores, and historic sites give Mississippi County its varied character. When planning a hotel stay, you can choose your focus based on the nature experiences, river connections, or cultural destinations that interest you.

Wetlands and Mississippi River Habitats

At Big Oak Tree Natural Area, a 1.25-mile boardwalk trail leads into the swamp. The trail provides direct access to this landscape and a clearly defined route for planning your outing.

Seven Island Conservation Area covers 1,375 acres, including wooded areas, oxbow lakes, and small open spaces. It also has 3.5 miles of Mississippi River shoreline. The varied landscape ranges from wooded areas to open spaces by the water. The area is also home to the swamp rabbit and the Mississippi kite—two rare species.

At Robert G. Delaney Lake Conservation Area, fishing, birdwatching, and photography are the main public activities. The area is lined with numerous large native bald cypress trees. It brings together a range of nature interests: visitors who want to watch or photograph wildlife will find different points of interest than those who come to fish, while the bald cypress trees also shape the landscape of the conservation area.

Archaeology and Historic Sites

Towosahgy State Historic Site combines visible archaeological mounds with a significant history: between 1000 and 1400 CE, it was a fortified village and civic-ceremonial center of the Mississippian cultures in southern Missouri. The mounds are among the site's features visitors can experience firsthand.

Belmont is a historic site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. Visitors in Belmont can also see an information panel about the geography of the Trail of Tears. The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Visitors Center in Charleston offers a different focus: its features include a black granite map, flags, and large murals based on journal entries by Meriwether Lewis.

Charleston has more than 200 historic homes. The Victorian Moore House dates to around 1889 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With Towosahgy's archaeological history, the Trail of Tears in Belmont, and Charleston's homes, Mississippi County offers several distinct historical themes, rather than focusing on just one era or type of attraction.

River Connections and Unique Experiences

At the Lewis and Clark Confluence in Mississippi County, visitors can view the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers from the Missouri side. Another way to experience the Mississippi is the Dorena-Hickman Toll Ferry, which crosses the river between Missouri and Kentucky. The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is a historic river ferry that offers visitors a unique experience. If you plan to take the ferry, it is worth checking the schedule before your trip.

Bird's Blue Hole also tells the story of the changing relationship between the river and the landscape. During the 1927 flood, engineers blew up a levee to protect Bird's Point, creating Bird's Blue Hole. The year and the reason for the action are integral to the site's history.

Festivals and Cycling

The annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival includes an arts and crafts bazaar and a Candlelight Walk. For its 2027 edition, the festival invites visitors to explore the six-mile Dogwood-Azalea Trail. The festival and the trail offer different perspectives on the same theme: an organized festival program and a longer route that invites exploration.

The East Prairies Tour de Corn is an annual cycling tour that began nearly two decades ago. The 2026 Tour de Corn was planned to include stops featuring sweet corn; individual event details may change. Along with natural areas and historic destinations, cycling offers another focus for planning a trip to Mississippi County.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Pinhook, Greene, Jefferson, St Louis, Washington County, Benton County, Phelps, Bates County.

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