2021 Map of Altenburg

About this map

The Mississippi River creates a complex boundary between Missouri and Illinois here, shaping a landscape of river islands like Wilkinson Island and Hat Island alongside the Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. On the Missouri side, the German heritage of Perry County is evident in the cluster of historic settlements and their associated burial grounds, including Altenburg, Frohna, and Wittenberg. The terrain transitions from the alluvial Brazeau Bottoms to the high bluffs of Cape Cinque Hommes and Fountain Bluff. Genealogists will find significant value in the numerous church-affiliated sites such as Trinity Church Cem and Immanuel Lutheran Cem, which serve as anchors for these tight-knit communities. Landmark features like the geologic formation at Tower Rock and the narrow passage at Devils Bake Oven highlight the river's navigational history and the topographical variety of the Shawnee Hills region.