Cairo (Illinois)



Cairo (pronounced CARE-ro) is in Illinois on a small strip of land in between Missouri and Kentucky as well as the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, made famous in Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn".

Understand
The town was in former times a major port, but is now a semi-ghost town as a result of the decline of the river trade. During the American Civil War, it was used by U.S. Grant as a supply hub, but his military occupation of the town diverted much trade towards Chicago and Cairo could never quite get it back.

By car

 * US 51. Head south on US Highway 51 from Interstate 57.

See