Nestled along the beautiful banks of the Mighty Mississippi River in historic Northeast Missouri are the three dynamic communities of Hannibal, Louisiana and Clarksville. Linked by history, heritage and Route 79, these communities also offer professional artists a unique opportunity to live and work. “50 Miles of Art” is an arts corridor where fine artists, draftspersons and artisans use their skill to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces.

Route 79 offers breathtaking views of the Mississippi River, soaring rock cliffs, rolling hills and colorful landscapes.

Northeast Missouri is home to some of the finest festivals in the Midwest. The third and fourth weekends of January showcase “Masters of the Sky” and “Eagle Days” in Clarksville. Memorial Day weekend enjoy the “River Arts Festival” in Hannibal. For the 4^th of July, there’s fun for everyone at Hannibal’s “National Tom Sawyer Days.”  Clarksville hosts “Big River Days” the third weekend in September and “Applefest” the second  weekend in October. Hannibal presents the “Autumn Folklife Festival” the third weekend in October while Louisiana enjoys “Autumn Colorfest.”

A studio tour is hosted twice a year (the last weekend in April and the first weekend in November) by the artisans along the 50 Miles of Art.

Adventure and charm are still alive and well in Hannibal, “America’s Hometown.”  Hannibal’s most famous son is Samuel Clemens, best known as Mark Twain, author of some of the most loved literature ever born in America. Relive the magic of  “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” as you visit Mark Twain’s boyhood home, museums, Mark Twain Cave, Becky Thatcher’s house and the Tom Sawyer Dioramas. “Tom Sawyer” and “Becky Thatcher” greeted us in authentic costumes.

 In Hannibal, visitors will find crafts, antiques, working artisans, museums, riverboat cruises, and dinner theatre. It’s fun to take a sightseeing tour on a Trolley through the town, a horse-drawn wagon, visit the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown’s birthplace.

For information contact Hannibal CVB Toll Free: 1-TOM AND HUCK, 866-263-4825 or check website: www.VisitHannibal.com Mark Twain’s Historic Hannibal is the most famous small town in America!

Next small town stop was Louisiana. We enjoyed several of the five scenic overlooks. Hannibal to Louisiana drive time is 45 minutes.

Louisiana is located along Route 79 on Missouri’s first National byway known as “Little Dixie Highway of the Great River Road.”

The Central Business District has been called “the most intact Victorian street-scape in Missouri.”

Louisiana is home to some of the area’s best artists. Visit the Louisiana Area Historical Museum and enjoy a growing number of outdoor murals painted by local artisans. The Louisiana Mural Organization has completed three murals and has plans for four more. Mural location maps are available at 304 Georgia St. in the Louisiana History Museum.

A sculpture park featuring international and acclaimed American sculptors is located outside Louisiana. It features site-specific works; Story Woods, a children’s interactive sculpture area and Lay Center for Education and the Arts.

For information contact Louisiana CVB at 888-642-3800 or visit www.louisianamo.com and www.pikecountytourism.com

In just 10 minutes, we were in Clarksville .  Here you’ll find Lock & Dam 24 where bald eagles migrate, fish and nest by the hundreds during the winter months. Clarksville is known as one of the best bald eagle viewing areas in the United States. It is tucked between the highest point on the Mississippi and the river itself.

Many artists call Clarksville home.  Visit the cluster of antique shops and galleries located on Second Street (Hwy 79), Howard and Front Streets downtown. This entire district is on the National Historic register. For information call 573-242-3993 or visit www.clarksville.mo.com.

Forming a natural triptych (a set of three cities side by side) along the Mississippi River, Clarksville, Hannibal and Louisiana share a commitment to building a corridor of professional artists, artisans and galleries along the 50 miles of natural beauty connecting them. Already established as a destination for cultural tourism, the area attracts travelers throughout the nation with its unique blend of history, arts and scenic beauty. The Provenance Project was created as a way of using art and artists to spur economic activity along Route 79 from Hannibal to Clarksville.

 For more information call 800-525-6632 or visit www.provenanceproject.org

Our next stop was St. Louis where we checked into Drury Plaza. Next morning, we toured the towering St. Louis Arch, saw the IMAX film Lewis and Clark, the westward Expansion Museum at its base and the historic St. Louis riverfront, which included a Mississippi River cruise. Lunch was at Hannegan’s at Laciede’s Landing  314-241-8877  www.hannigansrestaurant.com

Soon we were in the historic town of  Ste. Genevieve where we attended a reception at Felix Valle House. We toured the house and gardens and had dinner at historic Hotel Ste. Genevieve.

We enjoyed a walking tour of Ste. Genevieve’s amazing French colonial history through historic homes: Bolduc House, Guibourd Valle House and  Amourex House. We visited a church and learned about the first French settlement west of the Mississippi. For information call 573-747-8788 sqchamber@brick.net

Cape Girardeau was the last small town on the Mississippi River itinerary. On the way we stopped at Crown Valley Winery for wine tasting. At Cape Girardeau we had a guided tour of area’s historic sites, including Bollinger Mill and the River Heritage Museum. Dinner was at Royal New Orleans in Cape Girardeau.