Visitors are invited to view eagles through spotting scopes staffed by trained volunteers at any time during Eagle Days on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on January 14 and 15. On both days the World Bird Sanctuary will be presenting an educational program, repeated every 20 minutes from 10:00 AM to 2:40 PM, featuring a live eagle. Programming includes a hands-on exhibit of local birds presented by St. Louis Audubon, a full-size replica of an eagle’s nest, and warming tent activities including children’s art courtesy of The Green Center on Saturday.
Visitors will also enjoy Lewis and Clark living history demonstrations at both Bridge entrances. The Missouri Bridge entrance will feature re-enactors from the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Missouri. Visitors can see how Lewis and Clark and their crew lived, cooked, and traveled more than 200 years ago. Demonstrations will also include a flag raising at 10:00 AM and lowering at 3:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. The Illinois side will feature re-enactors from the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in Hartford, Illinois. Both entrances will showcase life-size replicas of boats (called “pirogues”) used during the expedition.
Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly, wear comfortable shoes (eagle viewing occurs at the center of the Bridge, a half-mile walk from each Bridge entrance), and leave their pets at home. Hot food and drink will be available on site for purchase.
Directions to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge from St. Louis: Take I-270 east toward Illinois. Exit at Riverview Drive exit and turn right. Turn left into the entrance of the Confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Park/Missouri Bridge. Parking at the Missouri Bridge entrance costs $5. (See below for free parking information.) From Illinois: Take I-270 west towards Missouri. Exit at IL Route 3, go south to Chain of Rocks Road and follow west to the bridge entrance parking area (free). OR to park on the Missouri side, continue on I-270 west, over the Mississippi River; exit at Riverview Drive and turn left. Turn left into the entrance of the Confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Park/Missouri Bridge. Parking at the Missouri Bridge entrance costs $5.
Free parking is available at two satellite lots in Missouri, the St. Louis Welcome Center at Riverview and I-270 and North Riverfront Park, off of Riverview south of the waterworks.
A free shuttle will be available from both locations. Free parking is also available at the Illinois Bridge entrance.
Sponsors to date include Dana Brown Charitable Trust, Trio Foundation of St. Louis, Edward Jones, Great Rivers Greenway, Illinois Conservation Foundation, Metro East Parks and Recreation District, Pettus Foundation, Missouri American Water, Cargill, American’s Central Port, and ConocoPhillips.
For more information on The Confluence Partnership or Eagle Days on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, visit www.confluencegreenway.org.
The Confluence is a network of conservation, heritage and recreation attractions along Amer-ica’s Great Rivers in the heart of the bi-state St. Louis region. This linked system of parks, historic sites, interpretive centers and multi-use trails is being developed by a unique partnership of public and private agencies. The goal of The Confluence Partnership is to reconnect people to the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers.