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Granite City takes its name from graniteware, the enamel-coated kitchen pots that brothers Frederick and William Niedringhaus decided to manufacture here in the 1890s. They founded a company town on the Illinois bottomlands across the Mississippi from St. Louis, and the steel mill that grew from it still dominates the skyline, drawing generations of immigrant workers from the Balkans, Hungary and Mexico.
Today the city is a gateway to the Illinois river confluence region. Horseshoe Lake State Park, an old oxbow of the Mississippi, sits on the eastern edge of town with fishing and birding, while the levee-top MCT Confluence Trail heads north toward Hartford and Alton. Downtown, a revived arts district fills former storefronts with studios and galleries.
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, with its famous bend, carries walkers and cyclists across the Mississippi on the route of old Route 66. A few miles north, the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site and Confluence Tower mark where the expedition wintered in 1803 and 1804, and race fans head to the speedway in neighboring Madison.
A state park around a shallow oxbow lake once part of the Mississippi, with fishing for crappie and catfish, boat launches, a campground and a loop trail on Walker's Island. Migrating waterfowl and pelicans gather here in spring and fall. The causeway at sunset gives a view of the St. Louis skyline.
A mile-long steel truss bridge across the Mississippi with an unusual 22-degree bend in the middle, once part of Route 66 and now open only to walkers and cyclists. The Illinois entrance is reached from Chain of Rocks Road west of Granite City. Look for eagles over the river in winter and bring water in summer.
A steel truss bridge opened in 1910 that links Venice, just south of Granite City, with north St. Louis. Closed for years, it was rebuilt and reopened in 2007 with a separate bike and pedestrian lane connected to regional trails. Cross on foot or by bike for close views of the river and the city.
A grassroots arts district in once-empty downtown storefronts, with artist studios, galleries, a sculpture garden and murals. It hosts exhibitions, performances and open studio nights through the year. Check the event calendar before visiting, since most spaces open mainly during shows and events.
A paved Madison County Transit trail that runs along the Mississippi River levees from Granite City north through Hartford and Wood River to Alton, linking to the Chain of Rocks Bridge area. It is flat and good for long rides, with river views and bird life. Shade is scarce, so start early on hot days.
In Hartford, a few miles north of Granite City, this site marks Camp River Dubois, where the Corps of Discovery trained over the winter of 1803 to 1804. The interpretive center has a full-size cutaway replica of the keelboat, and a reconstructed log fort stands outside. Admission is free.
About 15 minutes southeast of Granite City in Collinsville, this UNESCO World Heritage Site preserves the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico, with dozens of earthen mounds. Climb the stairs of Monks Mound for a wide view of the bottomlands, and check the interpretive center hours before visiting.
A 150-foot observation tower in Hartford with three viewing levels and an elevator, looking out over the meeting of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and the Lewis and Clark campsite. Exhibits on each level explain the landscape. It pairs well with the nearby historic site, and the top deck is breezy.
A motorsports complex in neighboring Madison with a 1.25-mile oval, a road course and a drag strip. It hosts NASCAR Cup Series and IndyCar races, plus club racing and drag nights through the season. Big race weekends bring heavy traffic, so arrive early and bring ear protection.
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