Historical Markers and War Memorials in Alexander County, Illinois
Cairo is the county seat for Alexander County
Adjacent to Alexander County, Illinois
Pulaski County(13) ► Union County(19) ► Ballard County, Kentucky(14) ► Cape Girardeau County, Missouri(88) ► Mississippi County, Missouri(7) ► Scott County, Missouri(6) ►
Touch name on this list to highlight map location. Touch blue arrow, or on map, to go there.
On Fort Defiance Road, on the right when traveling south.
In November, 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their growing contingent of "Corps of Discovery" men, spent five days here teaching each other celestial navigation and surveying skills. Using a sextant, octant, artificial horizon, and . . . — — Map (db m19393) HM
On Sycamore Street at U.S. 51, on the right when traveling east on Sycamore Street.
On May 22, 1863, the United States War Department issued General Order No. 143 to establish the proclamation which developed the Bureau of Colored Troops. African American regiments as United States Colored Troops or USCT.
This division of . . . — — Map (db m216318) HM WM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 60/62) west of U.S. 51, on the right when traveling east.
Early removal plans called for transporting Cherokee by boat to Indian Territory. The first three detachments passed by here on steamships in the summer of 1838 as they descended the Ohio River. With low water levels and impassable shoals preventing . . . — — Map (db m161480) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 60/62) at Fort Defiance Road, on the right when traveling north on Washington Avenue.
Pierre Francois Xavier de Charlevoix, a French Jesuit, reported as early as 1721 that the land at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers would be a strategic location for settlement and fortification. Nearly a century later, in 1818, the . . . — — Map (db m144870) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 60/62) south of U.S. 51, on the right when traveling east.
Home to thousands of men, women, and children, the Cherokee Nation at the time of removal spread across parts of today's Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. The 1830 Indian Removal Act required that the Cherokee and other southeastern . . . — — Map (db m161483) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 51) at 14th Street, on the right when traveling north on Washington Avenue.
William B. Duncan, Chairman of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, presented this Rodman smooth bore cannon to the city of Cairo as a gift, May 27, 1905. The gun saw action for both sides of the Civil War at Fort Morgan, Mobile, Alabama, in 1861, to protect . . . — — Map (db m19423) HM
On Ohio River Scenic Byway (U.S. 60/62) at Fort Defiance Road, on the right when traveling north on Ohio River Scenic Byway. Reported unreadable.
Great River Road
The Great River Road in Illinois follows the Mississippi River through the heart of the nation. Discover exciting history, thriving river cultures, beautiful natural areas, abundant wildlife, and bountiful agriculture as you . . . — — Map (db m174555) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 60/62) south of U.S. 51, on the right when traveling north.
The beginning of the Third Principal Meridian is located in the Ohio River 1,735 feet directly north of this point. In November, 1803, this was the mouth of the Ohio River. At this location, the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery encamped for six . . . — — Map (db m19415) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 60/62) south of U.S. 51, on the right when traveling north.
Charting the Confluence On November 14, 1803, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, the Corps of Discovery stayed for six days, one of the longest stops made by the expedition. Here, they saw the Mississippi for the first time, . . . — — Map (db m19413) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 60/62) south of U.S. 51, on the right when traveling north.
On November 14, 1803, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and their party landed at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, the site of the present day Cairo. They spent nearly a week here, learning how to determine longitude and latitude, a . . . — — Map (db m19419) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 51) south of 17th Street, on the right when traveling south.
First woman in the West to organize camp and hospital relief. Under Gen. Grant's personal command Mary Safford tended the wounded at the battles from Belmont to Shiloh 1861-1862, returning with the casualties by boat to Cairo. Being injured in . . . — — Map (db m161200) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 51) south of 17th Street, on the right when traveling south.
President William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of The United States accompanied by his wife, Hillary and Vice President and Mrs. Albert Gore, Jr. spoke to a crowd of over 6000 in Cairo, Illinois at The Cairo Public Library on Friday, August 30, . . . — — Map (db m161195) HM
On Washington Avenue north of 28th Street, on the right when traveling south.
This 1865 mansion, originally built by William Halliday, was purchased by the City of Cairo Nov. 23, 1999, to be preserved and open to the public; it has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. — — Map (db m188714) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 51) north of 14th Street, on the right when traveling north.
The Newfoundland dog who accompanied the Corps of Discovery to the Pacific and back bought by Meriwether Lewis for $20 in Pittsburgh in 1803. He was "praised much for his docility and qualifications generally for my journey". A quote by Lewis, "He . . . — — Map (db m161201) HM
On Sycamore Street (U.S. 51) 0.2 miles north of Union Street, on the right when traveling north.
The "Big Subway Gate" was constructed in 1914 by Stupp Brothers of St. Louis, MO. The gate was built on the plan of the Gatum Dam at the Panama Canal and weighs 80 tons, is 60 ft. wide, 24 ft. high and 5 ft. thick. The counter weights used to raise . . . — — Map (db m195776) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 60/62), on the right when traveling south.
The beginning of the Third Principal Meridian is located in the Ohio River 1,810 feet directly north of this point. In November, 1803, this was the mouth of the Ohio River. At this location, the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery encamped for six . . . — — Map (db m19420) HM
On Fort Defiance Road, on the right when traveling south.
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 . . . — — Map (db m19390) HM
On Ohio River Scenic Byway (U.S. 62) 0.1 miles south of Fort Defiance Road, on the right when traveling west.
Purchased in the public interest March 24, 1942 by the Cairo Bridge Commission
The bridge was operated and maintained by the commission until May 22, 1954 when, as a result of the untiring efforts of many public spirited citizens, the . . . — — Map (db m174560) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 60/62) at U.S. 51, on the right when traveling north on Washington Avenue.
Completed November 11, 1933 Freed of Tolls November 11, 1948 by The Cairo Bridge Commission The Ohio River Bridge was conceived and built in the public interest by the Cairo Bridge Commission with the cooperation of the Federal Emergency . . . — — Map (db m19421) HM
On Washington Avenue (U.S. 51) at 15th Street, on the right when traveling north on Washington Avenue.
York was the first known African American to cross the American continent. In the company of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery, from 1803-1806, he shared equally with them the rigors of the journey, but when the corps was honored, he received . . . — — Map (db m41063) HM
On Bunch Road west of Illinois Route 3, on the right when traveling south.
In 1673 Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette explored the Illinois country for France. By the 1763 Treaty ending the French and Indian War, this area passed to England. During the American Revolution, George Rogers Clark's men captured it for . . . — — Map (db m161171) HM
On Miller City Road just south of Island Road, on the left when traveling south.
This memorial recognizes the 109 year legacy of Rev. Nathan London, born a slave in 1830. Known then as "Nate Lundy", he distinguished himself, attaining the rank of sergeant and assistant paymaster in the Union army during the Civil War. His . . . — — Map (db m40405) HM
On Miller City Road, 2 miles south of Illinois Route 3 when traveling south.
The church, founded by Rev. Nathan London in 1882, was located near this section of road. The cornerstone, unearthed a few yards west, was donated by his family to the Cairo custom house. — — Map (db m40409) HM
In 1879, Nathan London, of St. Louis, bought this 20 acre land tract. His son, Filmore, was deeded the land. Now the Jos. Blakemore family owns it. Ruth B. Chambers, only living grandchild, was honored here, Labor Day, 1999. — — Map (db m40411) HM
On Pecan Street south of Illinois Route 3, on the right when traveling south.
In November of 1803, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and their party camped on the slate rock bank of the Mississippi River near here. They found moving the boats up river very difficult and traveled only about one mile per hour against the strong . . . — — Map (db m161185) HM
In 1817 the Zebulon M. Pike reached St. Louis, the northern-most steamboat port on the Mississippi River. The western steamboat of later years was a credit to the frontier American mechanic who drew upon experience to build a large craft (eventually . . . — — Map (db m161177) HM
On Old U.S. 51 (Illinois Route 37) 1.1 miles south of Redman Road.
Pierre Francois Xavier de Charlevoix, a French Jesuit, reported as early as 1721 that the land at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers would be a strategic location for settlement and fortification. Nearly a century later, in 1818, . . . — — Map (db m161727) HM
