Mississippi River Visitor Center

If you're looking for free attractions in the Quad Cities, one of the coolest is the Rock Island Arsenal, where you can take a in a lot of history, get some great views of the Mississippi River and learn quite about about the history of the military and the area.

While at Rock Island Arsenal, take time for a visit to the Mississippi River Visitor Center where you can see Lock & Dam 15, the largest roller dam in the world. Once in the doors, you head up to the second floor where you can look out at the damn from a long wall of windows or from an outside observation deck.

On the day we visited we were able to see a barge move through the locks with the bridge slowly moving on a 45 degree angle to allow it pass through. I felt a tinge of sympathy for all the cars backed up along the bridge and beyond sitting and waiting to get to the other side.



In the winter months the lock and dam draw in those watching for Bald Eagles that flock there to feed. We didn't see any eagles on this summer visit, but spotted a few pelicans at the dam and even more just down the road near the Colonel Davenport House.

Allow a little time to browse the exhibits and aquarium of native river fish and watch a film on the upper Mississippi River. From Memorial Day to Labor Day the visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and from Labor Day to Memorial Day it is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Click here for more information and a map of the Rock Island Arsenal.