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The Arches & The Pyramids:trip overview

The Upper and Lower Mississippi River between St. Louis and Memphis

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.

Explore centuries-old river towns like Caruthersville, Mo., located in the Missouri Bootheel in the heart of an agricultural district, and Cape Girardeau, Mo., home to the Missouri Wall of Fame. These floodwall paintings stretch over 500 feet long and portray the images of 45 famous Missourians. Meet our friends who live in a place that has been dominated by the river since the dawn of time.

Come along! Travel with us in comfort aboard the R/B River Explorer. Enjoy deliciously prepared meals in the relaxed atmosphere of the Galley. Take in one of the shows at our theater, the Sprague. Join us for an exciting and affordable adventure between The Arch & The Pyramid as we go barging from rivers to shores, sharing America's stories.

Memphis-St. Louis

From the Pyramid in Memphis to the Arch in St. Louis. These excursions are monumental journeys that begin in Memphis. See Mud Island, a scale model flowing replica of the Mississippi River complete with topographical details of cities, sandbars and river system tributaries. Barge on the Lower and Upper Mississippi River. There are many sights to see on your way to St. Louis. Caruthersville, Mo., is an agricultural district where cotton, soybeans and alfalfa are the chief crops. Witness the amazing Confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. You will have the chance to explore the quaint river town of Cape Girardeau, Mo. Tour the Common Pleas Courthouse, Old St. Vincent's Church, the historic Glenn House, the Cape River Heritage Museum and more. In St. Louis, visit the gleaming Gateway Arch that towers over the river as a symbol of America's opening of the West to commerce and settlement, and the Museum of Westward Expansion.