Mississippi River Visitor Center - OPEN HOUSE

Published Jan. 8, 2014

Rock Island, IL - You are cordially invited to attend an Open House at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi River Visitor Center located at Locks and Dam #15 on the Rock island Arsenal.  The Open House will run all day on Friday January 24, 2014 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

The Visitor Center has been remodeled with new display additions, historical corps artifacts and interesting interactive displays for people of all ages.  During this time of the year you will also be able to view American Bald Eagles who winter around the locks and dams on the Mississippi River annually. Simple refreshments (coffee, hot chocolate and cookies) will be available throughout the day in the lobby.  Water Safety activity books for kids, brochures, and maps are available for handout and also videos will be shown in the theater.  There is a gift shop in the visitor center with souvenirs, clothing, books, and other educational items for purchase from the QCCVB Co-operating Association.  Attendees can enter a drawing which will be held at the end of the day for a $25.00 certificate good for items from the gift shop. FROM 1:00 – 2:30 PM, extra staff from the Corps will be on hand to answer questions about the varying programs highlighted in the new displays, such as:  forestry, shoreline management, navigation, recreation, and natural resource protection.  Also during this time, Contractors and other partners with the QCCVB involved in the remodel will also be on hand to answer questions about the projects and the other Quad Cities’ points of interest.

The weekend following this Open House will feature combination Bald Eagle and Historic Clock Tower guided tours to allow visitors to see two unique aspects of the Corps of Engineers at Locks and Dam 15 and the Visitor Center.  The Visitor Center will also be providing Bald Eagle and Historic Clock Tower tours Saturday’s and Sunday’s through February 9th. For more details, call the Visitor Center at (309)794-5338, or visit our website at www.missriver.org.


Release no. 14-002