Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower Opens for the Season

Tours available Thursdays through Sundays

Take in the breathtaking views from 150-feet high at the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, 435 Confluence Tower Dr., Hartford, which re-opens for the season Thursday, May 19.

The Tower will be open to the public Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided tours are available every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Tower will be open from May 19 through Oct. 30. It will reopen again for Eagle Season 2023 in January and February.

The Confluence Tower is operating under a partnership between the Village of Hartford and the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau.

“The Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower is a popular attraction for the Village of Hartford and it really welcomes people to the first part of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway.  We look forward to welcoming visitors back to Hartford and the Tower,” Hartford Mayor Bill Robertson said.

The Confluence Tower was built to commemorate the bicentennial celebration of the historic Lewis & Clark Expedition that took place over 200 years ago. The Village of Hartford purchased the tower site in 2002. By May 14, 2010, the Tower was opened for business.

Visitors take an elevator to three different platforms set at 50 feet, 100 feet, and 150 feet above ground. The first level tells the story of Hartford as an emerging industrial community located along the Mississippi River. The second level highlights the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway and the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The third level provides a stunning panorama of the rivers and the Mississippi River Basin. Views include downtown St. Louis to the south and Alton and the Clark Bridge to the north.

“The Confluence Tower really showcases the scenic beauty of the Great Rivers & Routes region,” says Cory Jobe, President and CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “From views of the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to sights of downtown St. Louis and beyond, the Tower is a great place to experience the history and beauty of the region.”

The Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower celebrates the place where the two explorers launched their expedition to map out the western United States.

Located along the 18.7-mile Confluence Bike Trail, the Tower is a convenient stop for bicyclists and hikers traveling from Granite City to Alton.

The Confluence Tower is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours are $6 for adults and children when purchased at the Tower. Tickets are also available on RiversandRoutes.com: https://www.riversandroutes.com/things-to-do/buy-tickets/

Lewis and Clark Events Calendar

For current information regarding Lewis and Clark Community College’s operations during the pandemic, please visit lc.edu/coronavirus.

5/18 – Pre-Grad Party 2022: 2-4 p.m., The Grove, outside The Commons, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey. (618) 468-6400.

5/18 – Interactive Mural Unveiling: 2:15 p.m., The Grove, outside The Commons, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey. (618) 468-3200. 

5/18 – 51st Annual Commencement Ceremony: 6 p.m., Alton Public School Stadium, West Elementary, 1513 State St. Visit www.lc.edu/graduation for more information.

5/22 – Nautilus Creative Dance: 11 a.m., Ann Whitney Olin Theatre, Hatheway Cultural Center, Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey. (618) 210-4108.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Hosts Trivia Night Under the Stadium Lights

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois (Big Brother Big Sisters) announces their Second Annual Trivia For Kids’ Sake fundraising event will be held on June 9th at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

Guests can expect a premium trivia experience hosted on the field and under the stadium lights. Teams of 5 to 8 will raise a minimum of $100 per player. Big Brothers Big Sisters will provide the fundraising website and resources to assist participants in meeting their goal. To celebrate the fundraising success participants will enjoy a trivia event with both an in-person and virtual option. In-person participants will experience cold beer and ballpark snacks, and compete in a friendly game of trivia for high-end prizes.

President & CEO, Heather Freed, states, “We are on a mission to ensure that every child in our community graduates from high school with a plan for their future and a mentor for a lifetime. After the last two years, many of us are looking for real and meaningful ways to heal our community. This is a chance to reunite with your friends or gather a group of co-workers while supporting the oldest, largest, and most respected mentoring organization in the area.”

A variety of fundraising prizes will be awarded including Green Seat tickets to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium and a private five-course dinner with wine pairings at Bella Milano to name a few.

Teams are encouraged to register for the event by May 9. All funds raised will support life-changing one-to-one mentorship proven to keep kids in school, out of trouble, and on the path to post-graduate success.

For more information on how to sign up your team or to become a sponsor for the event, go to www.bbbsil.org/triviaforkidssake.