Near Cairo in Alexander County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Meeting of the Rivers
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 17, 2009
1. The Meeting of the Rivers Marker
Inscription.
The Meeting of the Rivers. . Long known to the Indian who used the two great rivers as his highways for trade and war, this junction of the Ohio and the Mississippi was first sighted by Europeans when Marquette and Joliet glided past in 1673. Ten years later La Salle explored the area and established France's claim to the Mississippi Valley. From that time on this confluence was recognized as a strategic site for settlement and fortification. George Rogers Clark, following the capture of Kaskaskia in 1778, stationed armed boats at this junction to guard against attacks on the Illinois country by the British or Spanish. Here in 1811 the "New Orleans", first steamboat to navigate western waters, lay at anchor during three nights of the New Madrid earthquake. In April of 1861 Fort Defiance was established at the confluence to thwart Confederate invasion and blockade the trade of the South. From here was launched General Grant's great flanking movement of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, which began at Fort Henry and ended at Vicksburg, giving the Union complete control of the Mississippi.
Long known to the Indian who used the two great rivers as his highways for trade and war, this junction of the Ohio and the Mississippi was first sighted by Europeans when Marquette and Joliet glided past in 1673. Ten years later La Salle explored the area and established France's claim to the Mississippi Valley. From that time on this confluence was recognized as a strategic site for settlement and fortification. George Rogers Clark, following the capture of Kaskaskia in 1778, stationed armed boats at this junction to guard against attacks on the Illinois country by the British or Spanish. Here in 1811 the "New Orleans", first steamboat to navigate western waters, lay at anchor during three nights of the New Madrid earthquake. In April of 1861 Fort Defiance was established at the confluence to thwart Confederate invasion and blockade the trade of the South. From here was launched General Grant's great flanking movement of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, which began at Fort Henry and ended at Vicksburg, giving the Union complete control of the Mississippi.
36° 59.04′ N, 89° 8.391′ W. Marker is near Cairo, Illinois, in Alexander County. Marker is on Fort Defiance Road, on the right when traveling south. Located in Fort Defiance Park, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cairo IL 62914, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker is mounted on one of the piers for the concrete observation platform.
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 17, 2009
4. Observation Platform
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 17, 2009
5. Three States and Two Rivers
Looking southeast from the platform. The Ohio River (left) joins the Mississippi River (right and into the center distance) at this point. In the foreground is the southernmost tip of Illinois. Kentucky stands on the left and center, across the Ohio. Missouri is on the right, across the Mississippi River. The Mississippi passes through an "S" bend around Cairo and Bird Point, Missouri at the confluence.
Photographed By Shane Oliver, May 1, 2021
6. View of the Rivers Confluence from the Observation Platform
Photographed By Shane Oliver, May 22, 2021
7. View of the Observation Platform at Fort Defiance
Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,818 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on May 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on June 2, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on June 2, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia.
