Location: Follows the Ohio River through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio Length: 967 miles (1557 km) Time To Allow: 5 days Description/Highlights/Points of Interest This byway is a history-rich corridor that meanders along the banks of the Ohio River, hugging its shoreline and offering almost continuous river views. The Ohio's history can be found in both rural landscapes and small, quaint towns, covering periods from Native American habitation through western settlement, changing transportation patterns and industrialization. The landscape along the route offers scenes illustrating this history; sites include Scofield Covered Bridge, Grant's Birthplace, Lanier Mansion State Historic Site, Angel Mounds State Historic Site and Fort Massac State Park and Cave in Rock State Park. Suggested Itinerary Beginning in Cairo, Illinois, Fort Defiance Park, is right on the byway, stop 15 minutes and view the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, where you can see tugs working on the rivers. There are picnic tables and the Riverboatmens Memorial, which allows great photo opportunities, where the nation's largest rivers meet. Taking Highway 51 right through Cairo (on Washington Avenue), travel 1 1/2 miles (2.4 km) to The Hewer Statue in Halliday Park right on the corner of Washington Ave. and Poplar Ave. About 1/2 mile (.8 km) later you can see the Safford Memorial Library (a 15-minute stop), where you can pick up a 50-cent book out of the "treasure bin" to read in bed that night. Across the street is the U.S. Custom House Museum (a 30-minute stop). Where Highway 51 & Washington Ave. split, you can take a short detour following Washington Ave. along "Millionaire's Row" to see turn of the century mansions such as "River Lore" and "Magnolia Manor," which is open for tours. Then turn right on 28th St. to rejoin byway. Heading north on Highway 51 out of Cairo about 5 miles (8 km) at the junction of Highway 51 and Highway 37 is the Mounds City National Cemetery (15-minute stop). From Mound City, the byway route goes onto Highway 37. Traveling north on Highway 37, about 5 miles (8 km) later is the Olmstead Lock and Dam project where they have a lookout pavilion and restrooms (15-minute stop). The route then goes up Highway 37 about 5 miles (8 km) to the Grand Chain Joppa Blacktop and runs into Highway 45. Highway 45 goes south into Metropolis, where you can see Superman Square right in the center of Metropolis. A casino is located in Metropolis along the Ohio River. Fort Massac State Park is the next stop, (2 miles [3.2 km] south from Superman Square), located right on Highway 45. They have picnic tables, a museum and a variety of events that occur throughout the year (a 30-minute stop). Follow the byway out through Brookport, Unionville and Liberty up through Baycity to Golconda (about 45 miles [72 km] from Metropolis), where you will find the Golconda Marina (15-minute stop), the Buel House and many antique and novelty shops (about an hour stop). You continue on Highway 46 and go through Elizabeth Town and onto Cave-in-Rock State Park where there is a lodge, a restaurant, picnic tables, trails and much more (an hour stop). North of Cave-In-Rock you can stop by Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area in the Shawnee National Forest to enjoy the hiking trails and picnic tables (an hour stop unless you want to hike). Then, continue on the byway until it joins the Indiana's Ohio River Scenic Byway portion. Travel Season/Dates Expect road closings in Spring due to flooding. Ferries cannot operate when the river freezes.