This section of the website concerns the Mississippi River itself. We approach it from six perspectives:

– The confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, near Alton: CLICK 

– Lewis and Clark at the confluence as they prepared to leave Illinois for their great expedition (and. be sure to watch our film, embedded on that page): CLICK

– Mark Twain, through our interview with Professor Bruce Michelson, a renowned Twain expert: CLICK

– Captain Luke Moore, who piloted the massive Mary Evelyn barge tow on the river for more than thirty years: CLICK

– Melvin Price Locks and Dam, near Alton: CLICK

– The National Great Rivers Museum, near Alton and the confluence: CLICK

Recently, the United States Postal Service 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: