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
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
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Environment • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 18.23′ N, 89° 31.073′ W. Marker was in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. It was on North Water Street. Located on Missouri Wall of Fame along the Missouri River Front. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 20 N Water St, Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Southeast Missouri. It was also in the American Ozarks, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location:
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
2. 1964 Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. 1958 (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1980 (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1927 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 2003 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1925 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1924 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Artists (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.
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.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 464 times since then and 47 times this year. Last updated on November 22, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
