This section of the website concerns the Mississippi River itself. We approach it from the perspective of Mark Twain in the 19th century through our interview with Professor Bruce Michelson (Emeritus, English Department, UIUC), a renowned expert on Mark Twain:
https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_v60jhw4m
and through our interview with Captain Luke Moore:
https://uofi.box.com/s/x4gebrvdgroq0dm5lthx2si4lm39gf43
who has traveled the length of the river for more than thirty years, piloting the massive Mary Evelyn barge tow.
The United States Postal Service has honored the Mississippi River with this series of stamps:
We note the challenges faced by the river. The October 22, 2022 news highlighted the drastic, record low water levels in the Mississippi River that backed up nearly 3,000 barges — the equivalent of 210,000 container trucks — on America’s most important inland waterway. Deliveries of corn and soy as well as fuel, coal, industrial chemicals and building materials were delayed at a cost of many billions of dollars. The situation continued into November of that year.
The New York Times, 11.3.22
But in late April-early May 2023: