Cultural Tourism Component of the Great River Road Study: Volume II: Interpretive Themes

The historical interpretation of the Great River Road corridor will focus on the river town communities and how they both grew from and shaped the Mississippi River. Each of these communities has various resources that reflect a larger historical themes; it is these themes that provide cohesiveness to the corridor. The six historic themes describing different aspects of our interactions with the Mississippi River provide a framework for the marketing and interpretation of different types of buildings and
structures found within the historic landscapes surrounding the river. The corridor's key themes are:
• Where Many Cultures Meet
• Lumbering and Agriculture
• Boats, Trains and Automobiles
• The Power of the River
• River Recreation
• Community Development

The historic themes presented in this study grew from the stories that Mississippi River corridor residents have in common. The narratives also link to present issues. Inter-cultural interaction, transportation, agriculture, conservation, energy generation,
recreation and community development formed the history of these communities and will continue to present opportunities and challenges to the people who live along the Mississippi River. These narratives and the properties that illustrate their importance
form the body of this report.

The document identifies specific historic sites and groups of sites with heritage tourism potential within three segments of the river corridor. Properties were selected based on their ability to convey their association with one or more of the historic themes,
their physical integrity, and their accessibility to the public.