Lewis and Clark Confluence at Historic Site, Tower

Take a drive to Illinois and see where Lewis and Clark really started their great westward expedition. The Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower and the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site are both located in Hartford, IL and when visited together are well worth the drive.

The Confluence Tower stands 180 feet tall and overlooks the spot where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers meet. The nearby historic site has a museum and replica of Camp Dubois, where Lewis and Clark spent the winter before sailing down the Missouri River.

Hartford is less than an hour’s drive from west St. Louis County. The two attractions are about a mile apart.

What To See: The tower is made of two connected legs, one named for Lewis and the other for Clark. Guided tours go up once every half hour and stop at each of the three platforms. Visitors can ride the elevator or take the steps. You’ll have plenty of time at each platform to take in the view of three rivers: the Mississippi, the Missouri and the Illinois River to the north, which form the confluence. On a clear day you can see downtown St. Louis and the Arch.

The tour only takes a half hour, so when you’re done head over to the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site for a stroll through history.

The historic site is the location of Lewis and Clark’s Camp Dubois, where they spent the winter of 1803 preparing for the expedition. It’s a great place for kids to see what Lewis and Clark needed to pack on their long trip to find the Pacific Ocean. You can walk around a 55 foot-long keelboat, sliced in half so visitors can peer inside and see how it would have been packed with provisions for the journey.

Outside the museum is a replica of Camp Dubois, a small wooden fort with crude log cabins. You can tour the fort and imagine how difficult that winter must have been for Lewis and Clark’s men.

If You Go: It’s recommended to visit both locations on one trip because the tower will only take 30 minutes to explore. You may also want to pack a picnic lunch to eat at the park--there are no restaurants located near either attraction.

Cost: Admission to the Confluence Tower is $4 for adults, $2 for kids under 12 and free for children under two. The Lewis and Clark State Historic Site is free (but there is a donation box).

Hours: The tower is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m. The last tour leaves at 4 p.m.
The historic site is open from 9 a.m to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Tower Location: 435 Confluence Tower Drive, Hartford, IL 62048

Historic Site Location: One Lewis and Clark Drive, Hartford IL 62048