"The Ohio is the most beautiful river on earth. It's current gentle, waters clear, and bosom smooth and unbroken by rocks and rapids, a single instance only expected." Thomas Jefferson.
Like the Ohio, I am connected to the Mississippi
Born near the Mississippi, living and working near the Ohio, I travel back to the Mississippi
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, to the Mississippi
Like the Ohio, I believe in freedom
Like the narrow river enabling escape from South to North, from slavery to freedom
Like the Ohio, I live to travel and connect
The river connects communities, I connect people and stories
And whether I'm watching the barges from upon a hill in Cincinnati as I've photographed
Or watching the sun rise and sun set from an Evansville office window
I appreciate the Ohio River, it's beauty, it's peace, and it's ability to change
You can teach kids about Science & Engineering by taking them to a lock and dam visitor center.
Through one of my jobs in which I met lock and dam engineers, I learned that there are many facilities throughout the US open to families to view the lock and dams. I've been to the Mississippi River Visitor Center with my family:
Mississippi River Visitor Center Locks & Dam 15
Rock Island Arsenal, IL
April - Dec. watch boats pass through the locks
Jan. - March spot bald eagles
Here's 5 additional places to explore:
1. Lock 16 Center & LaSalle Canal Boat, IL
April- Nov. 1 hour boat tour $14 in 2014
mule pulled replica of a 19th century canal boat
5 miles from Starved Rock State Park
2. McAlpine Locks and Dam Visitor Center
Louisville, KY
includes a public fishing area from the bridge
3. Bonneville lock and dam
near Cascades Locks Oregon, 40 miles E of Portland
declared a National Historic Landmark
You can call for a group tour request
4. Lock & Dam No 1, Minneapolis, MN
Near Minnehaha Park (also a great family place)
Panoramic views from a pomenade three stories above the dam
5. Lock & Dam No 7, St. Paul, MN
view lock operations from visitor center
