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 and 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 Mississippi takes on its delta appearance. But above its junction with the Ohio, the 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, you'll see the clear flow of 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. And a chance to travel with someone who knows the behind-the-scenes stories.

Ever heard of the "Steamboat Graveyard?" It's an infamous stretch of the Upper Mississippi between St. Louis and Cairo that has claimed many victims. We'll show it to you, but we won't get too close! 

Think the country's biggest fault line is in California? It isn't. An old Spanish settlement is the epicenter of the New Madrid Earthquakes of New Year's Eve 1811, strongest ever to rock our continent. Old timers say these quakes actually reversed the flow of the river. Did you know that the first steamboat to ever traverse the river got caught up in the current? Or that Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee was formed by the quake? It's all part of the story we want to share with you. 

Explore centuries-old river towns like Columbus, Kentucky and Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Meet our friends who live there 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." The hearty meals and the great entertainment are just a small part of our all-inclusive package where one price takes care of almost everything! Join us for an exciting and affordable adventure between The Arch and the Pyramid as we go barging from rivers to shores, sharing America's stories.

FROM THE ARCH TO THE PYRAMID. OR VICE-VERSA. EITHER DIRECTION, IT'S A MONUMENTAL JOURNEY

Six-day excursions begin either in Memphis or St. Louis. Great rivers! Begin where the Missouri empties into the Mississippi. See the Upper and Lower Mississippi River. The confluence of the Ohio River. Earthquakes. Shipwrecks. Amazingly friendly people and towns. Overnight stays in the destination and boarding cities. Also see Saint Genevieve and Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Columbus, Kentucky. Much more to explore.