The Cahokia Mounds Museum Society was recently awarded a $229,296 National Scenic Byways Grant to produce Multimedia iPod Tours and Interactive Online Study Units for Young Byway Travelers.

Communities in 43 states will receive $40.7 million for 160 projects to improve and promote highways designated as scenic byways, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez announced in October.

“I join Secretary LaHood in his commitment to protecting and promoting roads that are American icons,” Administrator Mendez said. “We’re proud to help tell each road’s unique story.”

Projects funded by the grants include improving visitor access to Chalk Bluff along the Crowley Ridge Parkway in Arkansas, a visitor contact station at Denali along the George Parks Highway in Alaska, and construction of pedestrian and bicycling facilities along scenic byways in Oregon.

The grants are part of the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program, which recognizes and provides funding for roads designated either locally or nationally as having outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational and archaeological qualities.

Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has awarded almost $388 million in funding for more than 2,832 state, tribal and nationally designated byway projects in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

The strength of this program is the voluntary, grassroots support of local advocates in communities throughout the country who nominate and promote outstanding roads for this recognition.

Cahokia Mounds’ project was endorsed by the Great River Road, IL Scenic Byway. The project will compliment the existing multimedia tours that were created in 2008 for the general public by creating tours geared towards young byways travelers. The tours will include audio, video and interactive components. In addition, a complementary series of online multimedia educational activities and lesson plans will be developed for home and classroom use.

We believe that this project benefits the byway traveler by providing multimedia tours whereby young byway travelers will be guided through the ancient city of Cahokia Mounds by narrative, video and interactive educational components. The use of the iPod Touch will add excitement and adventure to the user’s experience and will appeal to today’s high-tech generation. The project will heighten interest in the site, increase visitor participation and enhance learning opportunities. “The IL Great River Road’s Corridor Management Plan supports educational programs for the Road itself and its key interpretive sites,” said Roger Carmack, Director of the Western Illinois Tourism Development Office. “Cahokia Mounds, a World Heritage Site, is certainly a premier destination and the byway is excited about this program.”