If you read my post yesterday, you will remember I promised more interesting pictures today. When I was young I grew up on the rivers of Florida and saw wonderful wildlife and interesting plant life. The Mississippi River is a much larger river and throws out a different kind of beauty. The people who founded the Quad Cities area, recognized this beauty and built amazing homes along the river. Today I want to share a few of those homes. While I don’t have history on a lot of them, the few I do have, knowing these home are now close to or over 100 years old makes them more interesting. For instance…

This house, built in the late 1800s is now a museum on the Rock Island Arsenal. It was built by a high-ranking military official…and the second one he built. I don’t remember on what military grounds they said he built the first one, but the government was not happy about it and took it away from him. They transferred him here where he proceeded to build another one. They tried to take him to court and fine him but he died before that could happen. The reason for their unhappiness…it was almost the size and opulence of the White House, where the President lives.

Another beautiful home along the river was built in 1855 by Antione LeClair, one of the founding fathers of Davenport, Iowa. I believe it is also a museum.

Below are other interesting home built along this section of the river. Some are more modern but still in the early 1900s.

This one below was one of my favorites, not because of it size but the design. I love the Victorian turrets.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures of the fun I had. Tomorrow I will share the pictures of the bridges and the lock and dam. Until then be safe and be kind.