Thank you for your support of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) and our efforts to get the Great River Road National Scenic Byway designated as an All-American Road. We are pleased to share this information with the mayors of communities up and down the Great River Road, which follows the Mississippi River from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.

The Great River Road is a key economic driver of the region, bringing millions of in tourism dollars to communities in each of the Mississippi River states every year. Receiving All-American Road status would bring new attention to the Great River Road and attract more visitors to cities and towns along the route. Improving the Great River Road enhances economic development.

MRPC National Pilot Terri McCullough

All-American Road designation is awarded by the Federal Highway Administration as part of the 2019 Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act. Each of the 10 Great River Road states is applying separately under a multi-jurisdiction nomination, and applications are due May 15, 2020.

Each MRPC state is working with its state members, regional Federal Highway Administration personnel, local and county governments and other representatives to complete the applications in a timely fashion.

What you can do to help:

• Draft a letter of support for the Great River Road’s All-American Road designation efforts, describing the benefits your community could receive from the national designation.
• Reach out to your state MRPC chair to offer your support for the designation effort.
• Educate others about the impact the Great River Road has on your community and the local economy.

For more details on the All-American Road designation, please contact the MRPC National Office at 866-763-8310 or [email protected].

About the All-American Road designation

To receive an All-American Road designation, a road must possess multiple intrinsic qualities that are nationally significant and have one-of-a-kind features that do not exist elsewhere. The road or highway must also be considered a “destination unto itself.” That is, the road must provide an exceptional traveling experience so recognized by travelers that they would make a drive along the highway a primary reason for their trip.

The Great River Road offers just such a drive. This National Scenic Byway tells the story of American history through big cities and small river towns, through historical sites and Interpretive Centers that line the road. Native peoples, river industry, transportation, history—you’ll find all that and more on your next Great River Road trip.

The story of the Great River Road is also told through its myriad cultures, from the influence of immigrant communities (German, Italian, Jewish, African, French, etc.) to the region’s rich farming history, and from environmental protection efforts to the road tripping culture embraced by many of our RVers and other motorists.

Thank you for supporting the Great River Road’s application to be named an All-American Road.