Heartland of America

Board the ship and settle into your stateroom. Once you’re settled, explore Alton, the gateway to St. Louis. In the 19th century, this area served as a route into the Louisiana Territory. St. Louis became known in 1904 for hosting the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, where the ice cream cone was reportedly introduced. Visit key landmarks such as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, City Hall, the Old Courthouse, and the Gateway Arch, which represents the nation’s westward expansion.

Start your day in Hannibal, the childhood home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. This town inspired his famous stories about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Before the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, several Native American tribes lived in the area. In the 19th century, Hannibal became an important port for steamboats and flatboats on the Upper Mississippi River. The town is also the birthplace of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” a well-known socialite, philanthropist, and survivor of the Titanic.

Included Excursion:
The World of Mark Twain
See the town where Mark Twain grew up and where he drew inspiration for his most famous novels.

Optional Excursions:
Jim’s Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center
Tour Hannibal’s first African American History Museum and see the town where Mark Twain grew up.

Belvedere School for Historic Preservation
Explore a renovated historic brick mansion with owner, preservationist and PBS host Bob Yapp.

History & Heritage of a Mississippi Rivertown
Discover the intertwined histories of Hannibal and Palmyra, as well as their connection to the Civil War.

The World of Mark Twain: Behind-the-Scenes
Delve into the life of renowned author Mark Twain, including a Privileged Access visit to his namesake museum.

The US flag was first raised over Iowa in Burlington—in 1805—by Lieutenant Zebulon Pike during his Mississippi explorations. Later, it became an outpost for the American Fur Company, a trading enterprise founded by John Jacob Astor. In 1834, it took its present name after the Vermont birthplace of its first settler, John Gray. During the steamboat era, it was a major port along the river. Today, the city is home to many magnificent buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including the art deco Capitol Theater and the Gothic Revival St. Paul’s Church.

Included Excursion:
Historic Burlington
Experience small-town American life with a guided tour of this charming city.

Optional Excursions:
Art Around Burlington
Celebrate creativity, admire local artistry and try your hand at a painting project.

Historic Nauvoo
Learn the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) at this important early settlement.

Hinterland Dairy & Harvestville Farm
See how small-town farms can grow into a year-round industry by reaping the benefits of sustainable farming.

Straddling the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers, the Quad Cities area comprises Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline, Illinois. As the only section of the Mississippi that flows from east to west, it is geographically unique. Its tightly knit riverside towns thrived due to thoughtful planning and effective leadership. Today, the Quad Cities rest amid the fertile farmland known as “America’s Breadbasket”—the nation’s most expansive and scenic agricultural region—and is home to agribusiness giants including John Deere.

Included Excursion:
John Deere Pavilion & the John Deere Homes
See the Deere family homes and discover the inventions that changed American farming at the John Deere Pavilion.

Optional Excursions:
Putnam Museum
Get a private, insider’s view of Davenport’s premier natural history and science museum, the Putnam.

Iowa Farm Visit
Visit Cinnamon Ridge, a family-run Midwestern farm, and discover what it takes to put food on America’s table.

Figge Art Museum
Celebrate the Midwest’s visual arts with a guided tour of the region’s premier museum.

Quad Cities by Bicycle
Discover the Mississippi River by bicycle during a guided tour along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway.

Rock Island Arsenal
Delve into the history and modern operations of key US Army installation at the Rock Island Arsenal.

One of Iowa’s few cities laid out among rolling bluffs, Dubuque is called the “Masterpiece on the Mississippi” for its 19th-century ingenuity and modern-day cultural evolution. Timber and boatbuilding were central to the city’s growth, with wood harvested in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The spirit of this river town lives on in the Cathedral Historic District, dotted with well-preserved buildings and authentic period lampposts. Today, the city is praised for its livability and for its riverside developments, including a museum and aquarium dedicated to the Mississippi River.

Included Excursion:
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Explore the culture and wildlife along the Mississippi at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.

Optional Excursions:
Galena on Your Own
Experience the charm of small town America along a quaint Midwestern mainstreet.

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium: Guided Immersion
Delve deeper into the impact of the Mississippi on America’s cultural, economic, natural and conservation history.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin
Explore the home and landscape that most completely embody Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture.

Stonefield Historic Site: Rural Wisconsin Farm Life
Get a glimpse into traditional Midwestern farm life at the Stonefield Historic Site in rural Wisconsin.

Art in Dubuque
Discover the artistic and architectural treasures of Dubuque on an enriching tour.

Field of Dreams: An American Story
Tour the real-life Field of Dreams and a historic local brewery.

Beekeeping in Dubuque
Gain insight into the lives of bees during a visit to the Convivium Urban Farmstead.

La Crosse has a deep connection to the towering bluffs and rolling farmland of the Norskedalen, or “Norwegian Valley.” Here, a Norwegian immigrant population has created a unique culture over generations. Historic immigrant villages dot the valley still, a collection of preserved homesteads reflecting a frontier way of life. Today, La Crosse boasts numerous sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Its important architectural landmarks, along with an array of engaging statues along the riverfront, make La Crosse feel like a vast open air museum.

Included Excursion: 
La Crosse by Foot
Discover the history of La Crosse during an informative stroll with visits to important downtown businesses.

River Town Discovery
See the best of La Crosse—from top to bottom—on this tour that blends scenic views with historic landmarks.

Vesterheim Museum & Scenic Decorah
Relive Norwegian immigrant life at Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School.

Vesterheim Museum & Kroting Class
Explore Norwegian immigration in America at Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School.

Vesterheim Museum & Sølje Earring Class
Relive Norwegian immigrant life at Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School.

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Experience the spiritual and the serene during a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Mysteries of the Ancient Mound Builders
Gain insight into three major North American Indigenous cultures during a visit to various ancient mounds.
 

Red Wing is known for its Red Wing Shoes, which produced footwear for soldiers in both world wars. The city was named after a Sioux chief whose red-dyed swan wing indicated his rank. The first settlers—many from New England—arrived in the mid-1800s. German, Irish and Scandinavian immigrants followed, bringing skills in tanning, shoemaking, pottery and more. The city boasts a diversity of legacies including Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery, founded in 1877 as the nation’s first commercial potter. Today, Red Wing enjoys a place in the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Included Excursion:
Downtown Red Wing & the National Eagle Center
Get acquainted with Red Wing and learn about America’s national symbol at the National Eagle Center.

Optional Excursion:
Red Wing Pottery Experience at the Pottery Museum
Learn about the city’s famed stoneware industry at the Pottery Museum and enjoy a hands-on lesson.

Maiden Rock Apple Cidery Tour and Tasting
See how cider is produced and learn about Midwestern agriculture at a small artisanal orchard.

Historic Red Wing
Explore the history of Red Wing at the Pottery Museum and the Goodhue County History Center.

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.

Please note: Shore excursions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.