Two monuments, standing like sentinels on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, represent humankind's ability to tame harsh environments and build impressive civilizations. The gleaming Gateway Arch in St. Louis towers over the river symbolizing America's opening of the west to commerce and settlement. The Pyramid in Memphis is a totem comparing ancient Egypt's advanced society with our own. These are just two of the many sights to see traveling the Mississippi in a region called The Arch & The Pyramid.

Did you know that the Mississippi, like the Nile, is really two different rivers? Meandering through clay bottoms below its confluence with the Ohio River, the Lower Mississippi takes on its delta appearance. But above its junction with the Ohio, the Upper Mississippi River is confined within hard, rocky banks. For this reason, river pilots have long recognized the river as being two distinct entities: the Upper Mississippi and Lower Mississippi. When we reach the Confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, you'll see the Ohio mix with sediment-laden waters of the Mississippi to completely change the complexion and character of the river. It's a great opportunity to view the stark changes in geography and topography at the heart of the North American continent. More than just an intersection, the Confluence is the foundation of many stories that shaped our country. Today the Confluence is a major junction for barge shipping. You may see hundreds of barges waiting in fleeting areas anticipating towboats to add them to their tows, yet another fascinating river story on how bulk products are moved to their final destination. It's all part of the story we want to share with you.