Highway 41 Streetview trek visits a unique place

 

OK, so we're back on the trek again, with places to go in Wisconsin.   So let's take a look at far southern Wisconsin.

Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets -- a shopping stop. I wonder how outlet malls are faring between COVID-19 and the competition with delivery shopping giants like Amazon.



Here I-94 / Highway 41 again crosses the Des Plaines River, next to the Jean McGraw Memorial Nature Center. Keep this in mind, because I'm going to make a short side trip to a very special place.



To the east is Kenosha, Wisconsin, recently in the news for unfortunate reasons. To the immediate west is the Mars Cheese Castle. I remember telling you THERE WOULD BE CHEESE. (This is not the special place.)



About five miles east are two institutions of higher learning, the University of Wisconsin - Parkside, and Carthage College. Carthage College is mostly located on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. So don't consider this a detour, consider it a scenic stop. Feel free to explore.



But the trek is going to take this exit:



From here, it's about 4 miles to this spot.



That farm field drainage creek is the source of the Des Plaines River. Now, I know it's not as big or famous as the Mississippi River (which gets a sign at Lake Itasca State Park in Minnesota), and I'm not sure how many other rivers get a sign at their source -- though the short but mighty Comal River in Texas does get a sign and a park for the springs from which it rises -- there should at least be a sign.

Instead, just down the road, there's this:



Yes, the Des Plaines River gets started by flowing by the Great Lakes Dragaway.

There still oughta be a sign. At least Google Maps calls it the Des Plaines River where it starts.

Meanwhile, back to the main highway next time.