Lake Itasca

George M. Verity River Museum

The steamboat George M. Verity pushed barges up and down the Mississippi River from 1927 to 1960. Today it sits on land in Keokuk, Iowa, where it serves as a museum. Our tour consisted of a guided tour of the lower deck followed by self-guided exploration of the rest of the boat. We enjoyed exploring this great example of an early 20th century steam-powered Mississippi River workhorse.

Glascock's Landing

Brussels Ferry

We had planned to take the Brussels Ferry to cross the Illinois River into Illinois' isolated Calhoun County, but arrived to find it closed due to high water levels -- just like every Mississippi River ferry we've encountered so far on our trip north. This required we continue north rather than west to Brussels and then the Mississippi River.

USS Cairo

Vicksburg National Military Park > USS Cairo Gunboat

The USS Cairo is one of seven steam-powered ironclad gunboats designed and built by James Eads for the Union Navy during the US civil war. All seven gunboats were built within 100 days.  The Cairo was sunk by a mine in December 1852 on the Yazoo River.  The wreck was discovered in 1956, and raised -- in pieces -- 102 years after she sank.