EXPANDING FRONTIERS

St. Louis to Nashville • September 4-11, 2008 • 8 Days
Upper Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland Rivers • 429 River Miles

In a region of the United States where fiddles and banjoes are as much a part of local color as muskets and coonskin caps, we offer excursions that are perfect adventures to share with friends and family.

The first European settlers in this region were French fur traders who arrived in 1717. When the pioneers followed Daniel Boone through the Cumberland Gap into what was then part of North Carolina, this lush, green region's fate was sealed. This valley, whose rich agricultural lands provided attractive sites to homesteaders, would surely grow and prosper. Established in 1779, the first settlement of Nashborough (present day Nashville) was named for Revolutionary War hero General Francis Nash.

Settled in 1784, at the confluence of the Cumberland and Red rivers, Clarksville, Tenn., evolved as a river trading post for tobacco, grain and lumber. This river town was named for General George Rogers Clark.


Traveling on the Cumberland River, we'll pass through historic Tennessee Valley Authority locks and dams that were created to make the river navigable and brought electricity to the area following the Great Depression. More than 170,000 acres of the most beautiful lakes in America are found in this region. We'll see much of it, including Land Between the Lakes, a recreational area of lakes and shores that must be seen from our decks to be fully appreciated

BOARDING LANDING
This 8 day Expanding Frontiers excursion begins with an overnight stay in St. Louis, Mo. In 1764, French fur traders founded the city. In 1803, Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to President Thomas Jefferson as part of the Louisiana Purchase. St. Louis then became known as “the Gateway to the West” because of the westward movement of Americans through the city. We dock close to Laclede’s Landing, site of the original settlement that French fur trader Pierre Laclede named in honor of Louis IX. It became a center of commerce and today is an entertainment and shopping district.

The gleaming Gateway Arch, completed in 1965, towers over the river as a symbol of America’s opening of the west to commerce and settlement. The Museum of Westward Expansion (located below the arch) preserves some of the rarest artifacts from the days of Lewis and Clark. Through the exciting exhibits, explore the world of the American Indians and the 19th century pioneers who helped shape the history of the American West. You will receive passes to the Gateway Arch and the Museum of Westward Expansion.

BARGING
This route offers the opportunity to see the Upper Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland rivers. The Upper Mississippi’s depth is controlled by a series of locks and dams as it flows through scenic lakes, bluffs, marsh and islands southward. It is relatively shallow and much narrower than the lower river. At the junction of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, we introduce you to a sight that is truly a marvel to behold: the Confluence. More than just an intersection, it is the foundation of many stories that shaped our country. Today, the confluence serves as a major junction for barge shipping.

The Ohio River flows westward from Pennsylvania for 981 miles, forming the boundaries of five states along its course. It contributes more water to the Mississippi than any other tributary. Enjoy a short stint on the Ohio River with a passage through Lock 52. Formed in Kentucky but flowing primarily through limestone basins in northern Tennessee, the Cumberland River runs a course of 687 miles to its confluence with the Ohio River. It begins as a tiny mountain stream and grows substantially in volume from its intersections with several smaller rivers. Chief tributaries include the Little River in western Kentucky, and the Obey, Caney Fork, Stones, Harpeth and Red rivers in Tennessee.

When the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built a series of dams on the river to provide rural electrification, several lakes were formed, including Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. The area between these two lakes is known as Land Between the Lakes. A passage through Barkley Lock will take us onto Lake Barkley and the Cumberland River. We’ll pass through Cheatham Lock.

HOST LANDINGS ALONG THE WAY
Historic Cape Girardeau, Mo., was a bustling river port by the time the Civil War broke out. Established in 1793, by French Canadian Louis Lorimier, Cape Girardeau became a strategic point for France, Spain and the United States. Its famous Common Pleas Courthouse (circa 1854) held captured Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. The town was also the location of four forts commanded by Ulysses S. Grant to defend the Upper Mississippi River. Visit Old St. Vincent’s Church, the historic Glenn House, the Cape River Heritage Museum, the Red House Interpretive Center and the Common Pleas Courthouse.

Don’t miss the Missouri Wall of Fame, stretching over 500 feet long and portraying the images of 45 famous Missourians. Everyone loves our visit to Paducah, Ky., “America’s River Town.” Located at the junction of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers, it was originally part of a land grant to General Clark, but when he died, the title of the land passed to his brother William, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He named the town in honor of the Padouca Indian tribe. Clark changed the spelling of the town to Americanize it and it became Paducah. The Robert Dafford murals on the floodwall are some of the first things you’ll notice. These paintings tell the story of Paducah’s colorful past.

Visit the River Heritage Museum that is housed in the oldest standing structure downtown. Enjoy state-of- the-art interactive exhibits that tell the story of the four river regions. Or shop and explore in the William Clark MarketHouse Museum with its old-fashioned drugstore. Visit the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society. Learn about the art, history and heritage of quilt making. Settled in 1784, at the confluence of the Cumberland and Red rivers, Clarksville, Tenn., evolved as a river trading post for tobacco, grain and lumber. It is the county seat for Montgomery County and is the fifth largest and third fastest growing city in Tennessee. This quaint river town was named for General George Rogers Clark. Visit the historic downtown area and the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center and take a trip to a local winery. View ‘As the River Flows,’ a permanent exhibit housed in the Cumberland River Center where we dock that features a 12-panel chronological history of the Cumberland River and its significance to the development of Clarksville.

DESTINATION LANDING
This excursion ends with an overnight stay in Nashville, Tenn. The first settlers of Nashville were Mississippian Indians, followed by French fur traders and then pioneers. Tennessee became the sixteenth state in 1796 and Nashville was made its permanent capital in 1843. By 1860, Nashville was a prosperous city, soon to be devastated by the Civil War. The Battle of Nashville, fought in 1864, was the last aggressive action of the Confederate Army. In the decades following the war, Nashville experienced a growth in population, business, industry and education. Another area of growth was in country music, which has grown to the point that Nashville is known today as “Music City, USA.” Your excursion includes a pass to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, which tells the history of country music while honoring some of its major figures.

ST. LOUIS TO NASHVILLE DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
UE TO VARYING RIVER AND WATERWAY CONDITIONS, SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Day 1 - Thurs - 9/4 - Boarding in St Louis, Mo., begins at noon. Your stateroom is available at 3:00 p.m. Your excursion includes tickets to the Gateway Arch and the Museum of Westward Expansion. Take our complimentary shuttle from noon to 6:00 p.m. with stops including the Jefferson Memorial, the Old
Cathedral and the Gateway Arch. On your own, enjoy exploring other sights in St. Louis.

Day 2 - Fri - 9/5 - An early morning departure from St. Louis will begin this barging adventure on the Upper Mississippi River. We’ll have an early evening arrival in Cape Girardeau, Mo., where we’ll have an overnight
stay.

Day 3 - Sat -9/6 - This morning, be sure to visit the charming downtown area and enjoy tours of the Common Pleas Courthouse, Old St. Vincent’s Church, the historic Glenn House, the Cape River Heritage Museum and
the Red House Interpretive Center before our afternoon departure. Witness the amazing Confluence of
the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in the early evening before our late evening passage through Lock 52.

Day 4 - Sun - 9/7 - We’ll have an early morning arrival in Paducah, Ky., where we’ll have an overnight stay. Explore the William Clark Market House Museum, the downtown River Heritage Museum and the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society. You’ll never look at quilts the same way again!

Day 5 - Mon - 9/8 - An early morning departure from Paducah. Enjoy an entire day of barging on the Cumberland River. We’ll enjoy an afternoon passage through Barkley Lock. Spend some time on the Sky Deck and enjoy the ever-changing scenery.

Day 6 - Tues - 9/9- Enjoy some daytime barging on Lake Barkley and the Cumberland River before our midday arrival in Clarksville, Tenn. Visit a local winery and the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center before
our late evening departure.

Day 7 - Wed - 9/10 - Cumberland River barging and a passage through Cheatham Lock early this morning before our midday arrival in Nashville, Tenn., where we’ll have an overnight stay. You’ll find plenty to do from
sightseeing and shopping to world-class entertainment. Take the complimentary shuttle from 1:00 to
6:00 p.m. to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Honky Tonk Row. On your own, visit the Ernest
Tubb Record Shop and the Wildhorse Saloon, which are within walking distance of the barge.

Day 8 - Thurs - 9/11 - Enjoy a hearty breakfast before your morning disembarkation that includes a narrated limited city tour of Nashville on the way to the airport for those guests with flights 1:00 p.m. or later.