Rock Island, IL - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project announces they will be offering free tours of Locks and Dam #15 every Saturday through August 30th. These tours will be offered at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and will each last one hour.
Participants must wear shoes with enclosed toes and backs, tennis shoes are preferred. Purses, bags, cameras and pictures are not allowed on the tour but will be allowed in the Visitor Center before and after the tours. Tours will not be given in poor weather conditions. Walking is required. Pre-registration is also recommended as the group size is limited and tours sometimes fill fast.
If you do not have time to attend tours then just stop by for a visit. The Mississippi River Visitor Center gives you a great view of the locking process at Locks and Dam #15. A picnic area, restroom facilities, observation deck and an indoor theater are all available for public use. The Visitor Center located on the west end of Arsenal Island in Rock Island, Ill., is open 9:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The facility is only accessible via the Rock Island or Moline entrances. All persons over the age of 16 must carry a photo ID in order to enter the island. All vehicles are subject to random search and participants should allow 15 minutes extra to ensure proper arrival time. Pedestrians and bicyclists with helmets have access to the Mississippi River Visitor Center through the Rock Island gate only. Appropriate ID is required.
Contact the ranger staff at (309) 794-5338 to make a tour reservation or for any additional questions.
Release no. 14-050