Muscatine in Muscatine County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Great River Road
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Mark Twain Overlook
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021
1. Great River Road (marker north side)
(marker north side)
Charles H. Young of Muscatine devoted most of his life to the establishment of the Great River Road.
In 1916, the idea of a scenic highway was conceived and an organization formed. Charles Young became a director. A commission was organized in 1938 to plan a Mississippi River Parkway. Young was one of the Iowa members. In 1955, he became "Pilot" of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, and was active in its efforts until his death in 1969.
The vision Young had included signs with pilot wheel symbols marking highways from Manitoba to Mississippi. The green and white pilot wheel markers can now be followed from Kenora, Ontario, Canada, to New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the longest parkway in the world, a 5,600 mile panorama full of historical lore.
(over)
(marker south side)
And I remember Muscatine still more pleasantly for its summer sunsets. I have never seen any on either side of the ocean that equaled them.
The sunrises are also said to be exceedingly fine. I do not know.
Mark Twain
This lookout site is the former location of Muscatines first radio station,
this page online
(over)
Erected 1978 by Iowa Department of Transportation; Muscatine Area Heritage Association; and the People of Muscatine.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location. 41° 25.599′ N, 91° 2.09′ W. Marker is in Muscatine, Iowa, in Muscatine County. It is on Lombard Street just south of East 2nd Street (Business U.S. 61), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located beside the sidewalk in Mark Twain Overlook Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Muscatine IA 52761, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Quad Cities and in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021
2. Mark Twain Overlook (marker south side)
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Muscatine County All Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Trinity Episcopal Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Address by President Lincoln (approx. half a mile away); Muscatine Journal (approx. half a mile away); Old Jail (approx. half a mile away); Carry A. Nation (approx. half a mile away); Mississippi River Record Flood Crest (approx. 0.6 miles away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Muscatine.
Also see . . .
1. Muscatine native was a driving force in Great River Road. When it was all said and done, the commission had knit together a network of federal, state and local roads bordering the Mississippi from its headwaters to its mouth. Youngs contribution to the Great River Road is commemorated on one side of a marker atop Muscatines Mark Twain Overlook on Lombard Street. (Submitted on June 25, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Mark Twain in Muscatine, Iowa. Mark Twain scholars believe he spent at least a few
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021
3. Great River Road Marker
3. Know The Naked Truth. During the 1920's the radio stations classed as small-powered stations were given call letters commencing with K. Baker decided that TNT which stood for trinitrotoluene, one of the world's greatest explosives would be a good way to boost Muscatine into the world. Later it was believed that Baker said the call letters stood for "Know the Naked Truth". The station began broadcasting on Thanksgiving day, November 26, 1925. (Submitted on June 25, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021
4. Mark Twain Overlook Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021
5. Mark Twain Overlook (view from near marker)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 984 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 25, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
