I am sure that many of our readers are in the same position as me these days. You may be traveling to visit family or friends and may not be able to keep up your normal routine. It is Thanksgiving week, and I will be heading to Memphis for a few days. I will attempt to keep up my routine as much as possible, but that is not the case today. I am sharing this story that was published on today’s date back in 2019.
The attached story is about Tower Rock. It was written on today’s date because the famous explorers, Lewis and Clark, wrote in a journal that they spent some time at Tower Rock in 1803 on November 25-26th when they were on their way up the Mississippi River. It just so happens that this past week, a video was broadcast on KSDK, a St. Louis television station, claiming that it was once again possible to walk out to Tower Rock because the river was low enough to make it possible. You can view that video by clicking on the link below.
I have talked to a few local folks who visit Tower Rock on a fairly regular basis, and I have been told that if you wanted to walk to “The Rock”, you were going to get your feet wet. Now, we have just had a week of rainy weather. I know my rain gauge has had a total of about 4 inches in it recently, so the possibility of walking out to “The Rock” is reduced.
In my younger days, about a dozen years ago, I not only walked out to Tower Rock, but I also climbed to the top. I have checked that off my bucket list and will never do that again. And now, it is officially proclaimed by the Missouri Conservation Department that people are not supposed to climb to the top.
I also had a report from a friend who works at the Altenburg Hardwood lumber mill that he has seen plenty of tourists pass the lumber yard on their way to the river this past week. Whenever it is reported that Tower Rock is dry enough to walk out there, people flock to our area to take advantage of the opportunity. And sometimes, those folks stop in our museum for a visit. And right now, it just so happens that our annual Christmas exhibit is on display. It’s a great time to come by for a look.
Here is an aerial photo taken back in 2022 when Tower Rock was accessible to walkers.
If you ever decide to visit “The Rock”, please stop by our museum while you’re in the neighborhood. We’re open almost every day of the year from 10 am until 4 pm, and there is no admission fee.