Cape Rock Park keeps the river origin story in view

Cape Rock Park is a small place with a county-page job: it ties the city’s name to the Mississippi River bluff. The City of Cape Girardeau says the park is in the northeast part of the city on North Cape Rock Drive and contains 21.3 acres.

The official park page says the site offers a view of the Mississippi River and was the original trading post established by Ensign Girardot, for whom the city is named. It also says the park is mainly undeveloped to promote the natural area on the west side of the property.

For visitors and residents, that makes Cape Rock different from a sports-complex park. It is a local-history stop, a river overlook, and a reminder that Cape Girardeau’s geography starts at the bluff and river.