In 2001, Western Rivers Conservancy protected the place where two great U.S. rivers meet: the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The confluence is both historically and geologically significant for the Country, being the site where America's two greatest rivers meet. This is the place from which the Lewis & Clark Expedition left in 1804 to explore the West and to which they returned in 1806. The 1,067-acre property also contains significant habitat for waterfowl migrating along the Mississippi flyway. Western Rivers Conservancy transferred 552 acres located right at the point to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and the remaining 515 acres to the St. Louis Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District. The entire property is now managed as a state park, which is a great benefit to the St. Louis population center located just minutes to the south. The Danforth Foundation provided a critical grant and loan to fund the purchase.

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