continuing with photos from my bike ride along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers near Alton, Illinois....
Alton, like more than a few river towns, has a steep transition from the plains to the river valley. There was status to being on top of the hill, if only to avoid spring floods. I'm not sure why the steep roads were also prized as a location to build a house. Some of the old Victorian houses still exist and are in good shape, though!
and a hill in the business district.
City Hall is at the top, with a very nice view of the river.
Steve in Peoria (where there are some pretty cool old mansions from Peoria's heyday as a whiskey manufacturer)