On the northeastern edge of the Quad Cities, just off the I-80 freeway, lies the little town of Le Claire (pop. 2,734), famous once for its river pilots but now best remembered as William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s home. The Buffalo Bill Museum (daily in summer, weekends only the rest of the year; $2; 563/289-5580), on the waterfront at 200 N. River Drive, is dedicated to Cody’s life.
The welcome sign for Le Claire alludes to a “famous green tree,” a sight familiar in Mark Twain’s day, but now long gone. The tree was the gathering point for the specialized “rapids pilots” who would guide boats through the 14-mile-long Moline Rapids that began below Le Claire.
The Faithful Pilot (563/289-4156), at 117 N. Cody Road on Le Claire’s main street (US-67), is one of the best restaurants in the entire Quad Cities region, with creative, high-quality cuisine, a good wine list, and fine microbrews, all at prices you’d expect. The small bar at the back has views of the river, and the friendliest bartender along its banks.
