Lover Leap

Autumn visit to Hannibal’s lover’s leap:While the story varies, the main elements remain the same. An Indian brave and a Indian princess from warring tribes were prevented from marrying. The father of the princess, chief of the tribe tried to enlist others to kill the brave.  When the couple realized they were in danger, they climbed onto an outcropping of rock now known as lover’s leap. They decided that life was not worth living without the other. The two embraced and threw themselves off the cliff.  Lover’s Leap Park is thus a memorial to these two young lovers who sacrificed their lives rather than be apart. 

Today Lover’s leap is a 5-acre park atop the bluff on the south edge of town overlooking the Mississippi River.  A double heart sculpture has been added to enable the romantic tradition of hanging a love lock. This allows couple to symbolize their love without endangering their safety.