by Mike Davis

Created on: May 11, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Alton IL is a historic town on the Mississippi river with a great mixture of historic sites, tours, night life and good hotels and bed and breakfasts in town or nearby.

For those interested in psychic phenomenon, Alton has a number of tours of haunted places. Alton is known as one of "the most haunted small towns" with access available by either walking tours or bus. A number of the hauntings have been featured on various television shows and go back to the 1800's. 

Historical sites abound in the area - Alton has been around since the early 1800's with a rich history, including being the site of one of the Lincoln Douglas debates. Other Civil War sites include the old Confederate prison and nearby the site of a near duel involving Lincoln. There is also a beautiful memorial to Elijah P. Lovejoy. Then there is the site dedicated to the Piasa bird just up the road from Alton on the great river road. 

The great river road stretches north from Alton, past the Piasa bird memorial with beautiful views of the Mississippi river on one side and rough bluffs on the other side of the road. These bluffs are home to American Bald Eagles in the winter time and other large birds of prey the rest of the year. The river road leads up to the town of Grafton which is a popular place with motorcycle riders and day trippers looking for good food and bargains at the antique shops. Of particular interest is The Finn Inn which has huge fish tanks filled with river fish and turtles flush with the tables. Further up the road you get to Pere Marquette park which has beautiful hiking trails and amenities for those wishing to stay overnight or longer either camping or as guests in the hotel and stone cabins, with a beautiful lodge made during the Depression by the CCC.

Night life in Alton includes a variety of truly great restaurants to chose from old fashioned American style to Hispanic, Oriental or even Louisiana style food. A personal favorite is "Fast Eddie's" which was originally built by Anheuser Busch before it becam illegal for breweries to also own bars or taverns. There are a number of other clubs which feature dancing and and music. A popular attraction is the Alton Belle Casino which features limited stakes gambling for the those so inclined. 

Younger family members enjoy the Raging Rivers water park with all kinds of water fun available for the whole family. The city of Alton holds a great Fourth of July celebration that always pleases young and old alike. There are a number of "Renezvous" events over the spring and summer that always please the kids with colorful costumes and displays of period weapons. 

These are just a few of the attractions - many others are available for those with the time and inclination. Alton has a rich history about which entire books have been written.

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