108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 44
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas reaching the shores of the Mississippi River rep-
resented a major milestone for the westward expansion of
the system of railroad infrastructure that began on the
East Coast in the 1830s;
Whereas in 1854 the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad be-
came the first railroad to reach the Mississippi River and
that achievement was celebrated with a combined railroad
•HCON 44 EH
and riverboat trip known as the ‘‘Grand Excursion of
1854’’;
Whereas the Grand Excursion of 1854 began in Chicago with
a gathering of more than 1,000 dignitaries from profes-
sions encompassing the fields of government, education,
business, journalism, and the arts, and included most
prominently former United States President Millard Fill-
more;
Whereas the excursion party of 1854 traveled from Chicago,
Illinois, to Rock Island, Illinois, by train and then pro-
ceeded by boat from Rock Island to the present-day twin
cities of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and St. Paul, Min-
nesota;
Whereas the Grand Excursion of 1854 is credited both with
bringing the upper Mississippi Valley into the national
spotlight and with solidifying Chicago’s role as a major
transportation hub;
Whereas communities located on the 419 mile stretch be-
tween Rock Island and Minneapolis are investing more
than $5,000,000,000 in recreational, commercial, and en-
vironmental improvements to prepare for the celebration
of the Grand Excursion in 2004;
Whereas an educational program in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin,
and Minnesota will bring the history of the Mississippi
River to life for thousands of students from kindergarten
through 12th grade and will focus on the recreational,
environmental, and commercial importance of the river;
Whereas the Grand Excursion celebration of 2004 will estab-
lish a series of permanent exhibits throughout the upper
Mississippi River, recognizing the achievements of the
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many communities and celebrating the history of the Mis-
sissippi River;
Whereas the Grand Excursion, through its local, regional, na-
tional, and international marketing programs and initia-
tives, will communicate to the world the incredible at-
tributes of the upper Mississippi River, and will invite
hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region to cele-
brate;
Whereas the National Park Service, along with other Federal,
State, and local agencies and many other interested
groups, is preparing activities to celebrate the sesqui-
centennial of the Grand Excursion in 2004, to educate
local residents and visitors about the attributes of the
river, and to commemorate the occasion by establishing
future traditions that will improve community connec-
tions to the river; and
Whereas Grand Excursion, Inc. is organizing and coordi-
nating the celebration in 2004 of the 150th anniversary
of the Grand Excursion of 1854: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) expresses its support for the work of all the
Federal, State, and local entities, and the work of all
interested groups that are preparing sesquicenten-
nial activities to celebrate the 150th anniversary of
the Grand Excursion of 1854;
(2) expresses its support for the events to be
held in observance of the Grand Excursion of 1854
in Chicago, Rock Island, Moline, and Galena, Illi-
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nois, in Davenport, Clinton, and Dubuque, Iowa, in
Prairie du Chien and La Crosse, Wisconsin, in
Wabasha, Winona, Red Wing, Saint Paul, and Min-
neapolis, Minnesota, and in many other communities
during the sesquicentennial observance; and
(3) calls on the President of the United States,
the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of the In-
terior, the Secretary of Defense, the Assistant Sec-
retary of the Army, the Director of the National
Park Service, the Director of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service, other public officials, and the
citizens of the United States to support, promote,
and participate in the many sesquicentennial activi-
ties being planned to commemorate the Grand Ex-
cursion of 1854.
Passed the House of Representatives March 26,
2003.
Attest:
Clerk.