Grand Excursion facts for kids
The Grand Excursion was a special trip by train and steamboat along the Upper Mississippi River in the USA. The first journey happened in June 1854. It was important because it showed the first time a railroad connected the East Coast to the Mississippi River. Famous people, like former President Millard Fillmore, were part of this trip.
In 2004, exactly 150 years later, the Grand Excursion route was traveled again. This time, both modern riverboats and an old steam locomotive followed the original path.
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The First Grand Excursion: 1854 Journey
The very first Grand Excursion in 1854 was planned to celebrate something big. It was to promote a new railroad line. This line connected Chicago, Illinois to Rock Island, Illinois. This was the first time a train could go from the eastern United States all the way to the Mississippi River! It was a huge step for people moving west and for trade. Eventually, this connection helped lead to a railroad line reaching the Pacific Ocean.
The Route and Travelers
The journey started with travelers going overland by train from Chicago to Rock Island, Illinois. From there, they boarded several paddlewheelers, which are steam-powered boats. These boats then traveled up the Mississippi River to Saint Paul, which was then part of the Minnesota Territory.
About 1,200 people joined this exciting trip. Many of them were well-known reporters and important people from the Eastern United States. Among them were the popular writer Catharine Sedgwick and former President Millard Fillmore. News of the trip spread widely before it even began, so it got a lot of press attention. Stories from this journey, along with a famous poem called The Song of Hiawatha, encouraged many people to visit and settle in the region in the late 1800s.
Journey Details and a Special Ceremony
The train ride from Chicago to Rock Island was the first part of the trip. The Rock Island Railroad carried the visitors. After that, passengers switched to the steam-powered paddlewheelers for the river journey. The steamboats stopped several times each day to pick up firewood. They traveled quite fast and even arrived in St. Paul a day earlier than expected!
Once they reached the area, many travelers hiked to see the Falls of St. Anthony. This is the only waterfall on the Mississippi River, located in what is now Minneapolis. During a short ceremony at the falls, a jar of water from the Atlantic Ocean was poured into the falls. This was a symbolic act, showing the "mingling of the waters" from the East and the West.
A special trip marking the 150th anniversary of the original journey took place from June 25 to July 5, 2004.
The 2004 Grand Excursion: A Modern Retracing
The 2004 Grand Excursion followed the same route as the original trip. It used several historic vehicles. This event not only celebrated the 150th anniversary but also highlighted the cleanup efforts of the Mississippi River. The river had become very polluted as more people moved to the area. A lot of work has been done since the mid-1900s to clean it up. While it still has some pollution, it is much cleaner than it used to be.
Vehicles and Community Celebrations
The 2004 excursion also celebrated the improvements made to riverfront areas in many towns. For many years, these areas were not well-maintained. Recently, communities along the river have realized how important the riverfront is. They have worked hard to redevelop and improve these areas.
A steam locomotive, the Milwaukee Road 261, pulled old railroad cars from Chicago to the Quad Cities in Illinois and Iowa. Then, steamboats (or boats that looked like them) traveled up the river to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. These boats stopped daily and often became part of local festivals and events. Some steamboats were delayed at first because high water prevented them from passing under bridges. However, they soon caught up with the other boats.
The trip included many stops at towns along the river. Some of these stops were Dubuque, Iowa, Guttenberg, Iowa, and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Since 1854, many more rail lines have been built. So, the train led by the Milwaukee 261 followed the boats upriver on nearby tracks. For a while, another famous steam engine, the Canadian Pacific 2816, also joined them.
A Grand Welcome in Minnesota
When the original Grand Excursion boats arrived in Minnesota in 1854, there wasn't much of a celebration. They came a day early, so people weren't ready. In 2004, St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly promised to make up for it. He said, "Church bells will ring, cannons will fire, bands will play, flags will wave and the bridges will be decked with bunting and signs."
The boats that took part in the 2004 Grand Excursion included: Anson Northrup, Celebration Belle, Delta Queen, Harriet Bishop, Julia Belle Swain, La Crosse Queen, Mississippi Queen, and Spirit of Peoria.
Images for kids
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The Anson Northrup at Dubuque
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The Milwaukee Road 261 arriving at Dubuque
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The Alliant Energy Amphitheater
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The Celebration Belle at Dubuque
