The town of Metropolis, Illinois (pop. 6,700), along the Ohio River 25 miles northeast of Cairo but most easily accessible via Paducah, Kentucky, takes pride in its adopted superhero son, Superman. An impressive and photogenic 15-foot-tall bronze statue of the “Man of Steel” stands downtown, on the north side of the Massac County Courthouse. Nearby are a quick-change telephone booth, the “offices” of the Daily Planet newspaper, and every June a festival celebrates his crime-fighting efforts. For more information, and a look at one of the most extensive collections of Superman artifacts and memorabilia anywhere, visit the Super Museum (daily; $3; 618/524-5518) at 519 Market Street.
The other big attraction is the 40,000-square-foot Harrah’s Metropolis Casino, down on the banks of the Ohio River at the base of the railroad bridge.
