American Serenade Day 1: Alton, IL

By GERRY BARKER

Our American Serenade cruise on the Upper Mississippi started in Alton, IL., just outside St. Louis. Before boarding the ship, we got a tour of Alton, a city of some 30,000 with both charm and a rich history. A few things we learned:

• The world's tallest man -- Robert Wadlow  -- was born in Alton in 1918. He was 8 feet, 11.2 inches, and we saw his statue and a reproduction of his chair in a park. Sadly, he passed away at the young age of 22.
• The Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument, standing 110 feet overlooking the Mississippi River. a memorial to Lovejoy, free speech and the abolition of slavery advocate.
• Alton was the site of the last Lincoln-Douglas debates.

By the way, if you visit, take time to drop by the Duke Bakery. We hear the donuts are the best around.