2017 Map of Altenburg

About this map

The Mississippi River carves a dramatic boundary through this region, where the steep bluffs of the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois meet the historic German Lutheran settlements of Perry County, Missouri. The landscape is defined by its proximity to the water, from the sprawling bottomlands of the Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge to the geological landmarks of Devils Bake Oven and Tower Rock. Historically significant communities like Altenburg, Frohna, and Wittenberg are documented with their traditional street layouts and local landmarks, including Saint Pauls Lutheran Cem and Concordia Lutheran Cem. This area demonstrates a complex relationship between human habitation and the river's floodplain, seen in the extensive network of Levee Rd and the protected habitats of Wilkinson Island and Lacours Island.