Sing, creatures, sing / Angels and men and birds, and everything.
—Christina Rossetti

Amazing that we live in a world that celebrates the diversity, splendor, and beauty of this little blue spot. And it's blue. 70% blue. Well, mostly blue. We hold a fine balance of a healthy water system, from oceans to rivers to the little creek behind the house. This stuff becomes an integral part of our culture. That is, the waterways that surround us influence the way we live. Here's a test: what comes to mind when you think St. Louis? The Gateway Arch, good jazz, Mark Twain, and riverboats.

That's what some folks are hoping to do with the Confluence Greenway, a plan to tie rivers to the heritage of this area (and vice versa):

Back in 1764, Pierre Laclede established St. Louis because of the confluence of its three rivers-the Mississippi, the Missouri, and the Illinois. Long before any railroads or highways, here was a gold mine for commerce and transportation; the spot where river traffic met in the middle of America's frontier. The Gateway to the West was born.

Say hello to the American Heritage Rivers.

Show Louis and Clark how much the mighty Missouri has changed in 200 years.