Confluence Tower
Climb 50, 100 and 150 feet above the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and look down on their waters and the story where two explorers began their journey westward. From the three levels, vantage points give way to communities, history and stories of life along the riverbanks.
What began as a grassroots citizens group looking to commemorate the bicentennial celebration of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, now stands a structure that honors the place where men courageously set out west to discover the nation's prosperous lands centuries ago. Designed by KAI of St. Louis, Missouri, the Village of Hartford procured the tower site and hosted the ground breaking ceremony on November 1, 2002. From 2002 through 2010, fundraising and construction phases took mount, with a planned opening on May 14, 2010 to honor the famed departure. The summer of 2010 will host the inaugural season of the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, marking the 206th anniversary of the point of departure at Camp River Dubois.
Tower Facts:
•64 piers/pilings support the Tower, averaging 65' to 85' in depth to bedrock.
•20,599 cubic yards of concrete were used to build the towers, or approximately 3,433 concrete truck loads.
•Approximately 17 miles of reinforcing bars can be found in the foundation and structure.
•On a clear day, visitors can see downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch, which is 19 miles south of the Tower.
Lewis & Clark at the Confluence:
In 1803, President Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis, a captain in the U.S. Army, to lead an expedition, entrusting to him responsibility to find "the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purposes of commerce." Lewis assembled the Corps of Discovery and invited his friend, Captain William Clark, with a crew of approximately 30 other men, made up of non-commissioned officers, sergeants, privates, non-military members and Lewis' dog, Seaman.
As part of President Jefferson's mission to explore the recent purchase of the Louisiana Territory by way of an Army mission, the men set out on the 1803 to 1806 expedition, officially called, "Corps of Volunteers for North Western Discovery."
On December 12, 1803, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark established Camp River Dubois, within sight of the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Today, the Lewis & Clark State Historic in Hartford, Illinois sits at the location. As National Trail Site #1, the Interpretive Center is dedicated to telling the story of Lewis & Clark at Camp River Dubois.
Five months at camp were spent preparing and recruiting for the three-year journey westward. On May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery set out in their 55-foot-long keelboat loaded with supplies and the expectation of tales that would later become historical legends of bravery and possibility.
The Confluence of Three Rivers:
With the convenience and proximity to natural resources and transportation, the Riverbend area was developed within and around the confluence of three great rivers. A confluence is the place of meeting, or flowing together, of two or more streams. In this case, it is the meeting place of three important waterways.
From the vantage point of the tower, you can see the convergence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in Hartford, Illinois. Looking north, the Illinois River meets the Mississippi in Grafton, Illinois. The three important waterways led to the development and prosperity of industries, river towns and their people. Each confluence community offers a unique story that has been shaped and defined by the waters of these rivers.
Confluence Tower
Climb 50, 100 and 150 feet above the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and look down on their waters and the story where two explorers began their journey westward. From the three levels, vantage points give way to communities, history and stories of life along the riverbanks.
What began as a grassroots citizens group looking to commemorate the bicentennial celebration of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, now stands a structure that honors the place where men courageously set out west to discover the nation's prosperous lands centuries ago. Designed by KAI of St. Louis, Missouri, the Village of Hartford procured the tower site and hosted the ground breaking ceremony on November 1, 2002. From 2002 through 2010, fundraising and construction phases took mount, with a planned opening on May 14, 2010 to honor the famed departure. The summer of 2010 will host the inaugural season of the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, marking the 206th anniversary of the point of departure at Camp River Dubois.
Tower Facts:
•64 piers/pilings support the Tower, averaging 65' to 85' in depth to bedrock.
•20,599 cubic yards of concrete were used to build the towers, or approximately 3,433 concrete truck loads.
•Approximately 17 miles of reinforcing bars can be found in the foundation and structure.
•On a clear day, visitors can see downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch, which is 19 miles south of the Tower.
Lewis & Clark at the Confluence:
In 1803, President Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis, a captain in the U.S. Army, to lead an expedition, entrusting to him responsibility to find "the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purposes of commerce." Lewis assembled the Corps of Discovery and invited his friend, Captain William Clark, with a crew of approximately 30 other men, made up of non-commissioned officers, sergeants, privates, non-military members and Lewis' dog, Seaman.
As part of President Jefferson's mission to explore the recent purchase of the Louisiana Territory by way of an Army mission, the men set out on the 1803 to 1806 expedition, officially called, "Corps of Volunteers for North Western Discovery."
On December 12, 1803, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark established Camp River Dubois, within sight of the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Today, the Lewis & Clark State Historic in Hartford, Illinois sits at the location. As National Trail Site #1, the Interpretive Center is dedicated to telling the story of Lewis & Clark at Camp River Dubois.
Five months at camp were spent preparing and recruiting for the three-year journey westward. On May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery set out in their 55-foot-long keelboat loaded with supplies and the expectation of tales that would later become historical legends of bravery and possibility.
The Confluence of Three Rivers:
With the convenience and proximity to natural resources and transportation, the Riverbend area was developed within and around the confluence of three great rivers. A confluence is the place of meeting, or flowing together, of two or more streams. In this case, it is the meeting place of three important waterways.
From the vantage point of the tower, you can see the convergence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in Hartford, Illinois. Looking north, the Illinois River meets the Mississippi in Grafton, Illinois. The three important waterways led to the development and prosperity of industries, river towns and their people. Each confluence community offers a unique story that has been shaped and defined by the waters of these rivers.