Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

1964

The Great Wall

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012

1. 1964 Marker

Inscription. After centuries of floods, the Mississippi River flood-wall provided protection from the floodwaters that periodically ravaged Cape Girardeau. Construction began on the massive flood-control project in 1956 and was completed in 1964 at the cost of more than $4 million. The system of earthen levees and concrete walls parallels the river for 7,210 feet and includes two pumping stations, five gates and six drainage structures. It proved its worth in protecting Cape Girardeau's downtown in the huge flood on 1973, 1993, and 1995. The towboat is the Elizabeth Ann, owned by the Eribacher family of Cape Girardeau.

Panel Sponsor:
Missouri Dry Dock and Missouri Barge Line
The M/V Elizabeth Ann, built in 1958, was designed and built by Missouri Dry Dock and Repair Company, Inc. Since the boat's construction, it has been operated by Missouri Barge Line Company, Inc. Both Missouri Dry Dock and Repair Company, Inc. (Started in 1953) and Missouri Barge Line Company, Inc. (started in 1945) were founded by Robert W. Eribacher.

Erected by Mississippi River Tales River Heritage Mural Association Cape Girardeau, Missouri Where the river turns a thousand tales.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Environment • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.

Location.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

37° 18.073′ N, 89° 31.097′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. Marker is on Water Street. Located on Missouri Wall of Fame along the Missouri River Front. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Girardeau MO 63703, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1925 (here, next to this marker); Missouri Mule / The Wild West (within shouting distance of this marker); The Artists (within shouting distance of this marker); Title Panel (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lewis and Clark Expedition Across Missouri (within shouting distance of this marker); George Drouillard (within shouting distance of this marker); The Red House Interpretive Center (within shouting distance of this marker); The Red House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.

Also see . . . Mississippi River Tales Mural. The Mississippi River Tales is a mural containing 24 panels covering nearly 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2) of the 15-foot (4.6 m)-high downtown floodwall in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. (Submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012

2. 1964 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2017. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 165 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.