Cake 247- Ameristar Casino St. Charles/Highway 70

Found December 13, 2014

This cake marks the location of the Blanchette Memorial Bridge which opened in 1959.  Construction on Interstate 70, which is often said to be the first interstate project started just west of the bridge location.  The bridge is named after Louis Blanchette, the French fur trader who founded St. Charles.  Ameristar Casino opened in 1994 and offers a casino, luxury hotel, spa, 7 eating venues, 12 bars, an entertainment venue, indoor/outdoor pool, and conference center.

http://www.stl250.org/ameristar-st-charles.aspx

Cake 246- Our Lady of the Rivers at Portage des Sioux

Found December 13, 2014

Our Lady of the Rivers gets its name from the three rivers that meet a few miles from the site, the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois.  Portage des Sioux was named for the two mile canoe portage that crossed through the future town site when the Sioux Indians would canoe between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.  The portage site save them an extra 25 miles of canoe travel along the rivers.  In 1799, French settlers named the path Portage des Sioux, and a town developed along the path.  The shrine itself has been built in memory of the flood of 1951.  A group of townspeople gathered to pray for the safety of their town should the levee break in St. Charles.  When the dam did break, the town was still miraculously spared when the water broke into two arms just before reaching the town.  On October 13, 1957, the 3000 pound, 25 foot tall statue of Mary was erected along a causeway by the riverfront.

http://ourladyoftheriversshrine.org/

Cake 245- National Great Rivers Museum

Found December 13, 2014

The National Great Rivers Museum opened in 2003, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The museum is located next to the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, which can be toured for free daily.  The museum exhibits tell the story of the Mississippi River, and also explain how locks and dams work, as well as ecosystem life in and along the river.

http://www.greatriverroad.com/cities/ealton/rivermuseum.htm

Cake 244-Robert Wadlow Statue

Found December 13, 2014

Robert Wadlow was a pituitary giant, born in Alton, IL in 1918.  At the time of his death in 1940, he was 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall, making him the world's tallest person in history.  Robert led a relatively normal life and planned to become an attorney, but found college life difficult due to his size.  He quit after a year and joined the Ringling Brothers Circus at the age of 19.  At age 20 he began a goodwill ambassador for the International Shoe Company.  He died in 1940, due to an infected blister.

http://www.greatriverroad.com/cities/alton/wadlow.htm

Cake 243- Southwestern High School

Found December 13, 2014

Southwestern High School was chosen as the place to host the cake for Macoupin County, which was name for Macoupin Creek. The county was formed in 1829.  Southwestern High School is located just outside of Piasa, and it's mascot is the Piasa Bird.  

http://www.stl250.org/southwestern-hs--macoupin-county.aspx

Cake 242- Jersey County Courthouse

Found December 13, 2014

Jersey County is bordered by three bodies of water: The Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and Macoupin Creek.  The Kickapoo, Menomini, Patowatomi, and Illiniwek Indian tribes lived in the area.  The county is named for the state of New Jersey, which is where many settlers emigrated from.  The courthouse, which is still in use today was built in 1893.  

http://www.stl250.org/cake-jersey-county.aspx

Cake 241-Calhoun County Community Foundation

Found December 13, 2014

Calhoun County is a 37 mile long peninsula, bordered by the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.  In 1673, Marquette and Joliet traveled along the Illinois river and spent a night in Calhoun County.  Calhoun County was formed in 1825.  In 1847, Hardin became the county seat.  The courthouse was completed in 1848, and is still in use today as one of the oldest on record.  By 1875, Calhoun Country was covered in orchards, and today produces 1/3 of Illinois' peach crop.  Steamboats were the main source of travel until the 1920's. As the need for cars and trucks arose, the Joe Page Bridge was built in 1931 and is said to be the longest lift span bridge of its type in the world at 308 feet, 9 inches long.

http://www.stl250.org/cake-calhoun-county.aspx