RIVER CENTER MAY HAVE TOURIST POTENTIAL

The Mississippi River.

Most of us conduct our daily business with little notice of our watery neighbor. Unless floodwaters threaten, the Mighty Mississippi is undervalued and often taken for granted.

But each year this imposing river draws tourists by the thousands to Cape Girardeau's river door. They come to appreciate the river's majesty or remark upon its muddy appearance. Passers-by enjoy watching the boat traffic, realizing the important role the river still plays in transportation and commerce.

Cape Girardeau's Convention and Visitors Bureau is investigating a river interpretive center as a way to draw even more tourists. It is certainly a notion worthy of further study.

The river is already one of the city's biggest tourism draws, but promotion of the river is often lacking. We're not alone. Although the Mississippi River meanders through 10 states, there is no such center along its banks. That fact could be a real plus for local tourism efforts.

Such an interpretative center could focus on the river's importance in history and current events. Cape Girardeau might be a perfect site considering it is halfway between the headwaters and New Orleans. It could be similar to the interpretative center at Trail of Tears State Park, which chronicles the Cherokee Indians and their tragic forced trek.

Such a center would not only be a draw for tourists on land, but on water as well. Three passenger riverboats already dock in Cape Girardeau on a regular basis, and this would be just another reason to spend more time in Cape Girardeau.

This local effort could also tie in with the state's new tourism campaign of "Missouri: Where the rivers run."

While the idea sounds inviting, the devil is in the details. Money would have to be raised and a location near the river would need to be secured. These considerations should certainly be crucial to such a study.

But the idea is a good one that could pay big dividends for Cape Girardeau's future tourist trade.