When you think of the Civil War, Illinois generally is not the place that comes to mind.
But here, in the middle of the upper Mississippi River, off Rock Island, lies a Confederate Cemetery. Nearly 2,000 Confederate prisoners of war are buried in the historic cemetery that's adjacent to a national cemetery. That's not the only surprise you'll find at the Rock Island Arsenal, a working military munitions complex with a rich history and massive limestone buildings.
A museum showcases a large collection of battle-worn small firearms, and an outdoor exhibit displays vintage weaponry including a Battle of the Bulge Sherman tank and a 1953 Big Bertha atomic gun.
Elsewhere on the island, visitors may watch barges "lock through" the Mississippi River's Lock & Dam 15 and learn more about the dual-state riverfront communities of Rock Island and Moline/East Moline, Ill., and Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa.
Known collectively as the Quad Cities, it's the only spot where the Mississippi River runs east-west. The area was home to the legendary Sauk warrior Black Hawk, and was the site in 1856 of the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi.
Quad Cities' attractions range from the impressive new Figge Art Museum with collections of Mexican Colonial, Haitian and American regional art to riverboat casinos, gallery hops, eagle watching and biking trails. A thriving arts community sponsors numerous events such as the 36th annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, July 26–29.
Also popular are Moline's John Deere heritage sites featuring a glass pavilion with interactive agricultural exhibits, a collectors' center where you can watch vintage tractors being restored, and two historical mansions.