Great River Road Anniversary
It meanders through the heartland of America. It is deep and it is shallow – with levels ranging from three to 200 feet. It is the mighty Mississippi River. It has carved its way through 10 states, creating a scenic and natural border that has beckoned people to its banks for centuries. Songs and novels have been written about it; man has tried to control it and it has proven to be uncontrollable. It has played a significant part in all aspects of our country’s history.
The Great River Road and the Mississippi River Parkway Commission were established in 1938. Marked by the familiar green Pilot’s Wheel, the Great River Road runs from Minnesota to Louisiana for almost 3,000 miles. In The Natural State, 10 counties along the state’s eastern border lie along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway. The Great River Road marks its 70th anniversary in 2008 and the Mississippi River Parkway Commission has joined with those states to create a special geocaching program to celebrate the occasion.
The “National Great River Road 70th Anniversary Geocaching Event” will feature a series of geocaches created specifically for the 70th anniversary celebration. The historically themed caches will be located in each of the 10 states located along the Mississippi River. Ambitious cachers who find at least 10 caches along the route will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a vacation package that includes five weekend stays in five Great River Road states. Arkansas’s grand prize property is the Edwardian Bed and Breakfast Inn in Helena-West Helena. The 1904 Colonial Revival mansion is listed on the National Register and boasts a three-star rating by AAA and Mobil Travel Guide.
In Arkansas, 10 counties in eastern Arkansas are located along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway: Mississippi, Crittenden, St. Francis, Lee, Phillips, Monroe, Arkansas, Desha, Chicot and Drew. Each county will harbor at least one cache, with additional stashes hidden sporadically through September 2008. The first 10 coordinates include:
- Mississippi County – N 35° 34.196 W 090° 02.412
- Crittenden County – N 34° 56.961. W 090° 20.284
- St. Francis County – N 35° 00.546 W 090° 47.015
- Lee County – N 34° 42.553 W 090° 41.836
- Phillips County – N 34° 31.719 W 090° 35.322
- Monroe County – N 34° 53.295 W 091° 11.501
- Arkansas County – N 34° 22.478 W 091° 08.133
- Desha County – N 33° 36.638 W 091° 12.096
- Chicot County – N 33° 22.275 W 091° 11.623
- Drew County – N 33° 24.711 W 091° 27.712
Anyone can participate in the “National Great River Road 70th Anniversary Geocaching Event.” For serious geocachers, special drawings for prizes await those who find all the caches in one or more of the participating states along the scenic thoroughfare. The program is a wonderful opportunity for individuals and families to learn about the historic river and the rich culture of the region that lies along its banks.