The Mighty Mississippi

“It’s impossible to imagine America without the Mississippi” (1).

The Book

The Mississippi River is part of history and legend. Her waters are used for business, pleasure, and culture. Old Man River: The Mississippi River in North American History by Paul Schneider weaves these threads together in what could be called a biography and a memoir.

The biography follows the Mississippi chronologically from the Ice Age to present day. The reader is introduced to not only the Mississippi, but her tributaries and the entire watershed. For most of history, control of the Mississippi was a point of contention and even war – beginning with the Native Americans and ending with the Civil War. At the same time, the Mississippi was also a main artery for commerce, with cultures developing along its banks. River culture first developed among Native American nations and then the Europeans/Americans who traveled west. In 1807, the invention of the steamboat ushered in a new era, having a major impact on economy, tourism, and population in the Mississippi River watershed. “Today, more than 90% of the agricultural exports of the United States – 5 hundred million tons a year – goes down the [Mississippi] river to the world” (211). The last section of the book focuses on the work of engineers to make the river more navigable. Schneider argues that while this makes it easier for commerce, is has a negative impact on the Mississippi’s ecosystem.

This was a unique book to read. Each brief chapter is like a vignette loosely tied to the overall narrative. The memoir intersperses Schneider’s own experiences, whether looking for effigy mounds or floating down the Mississippi with his son, with the history of the Mississippi. This took a bit of time to totally follow, but once I did, I appreciated the organization. A lot of history is covered, but in a way that doesn’t overwhelm or make the reader feel like they missed something. The first-hand accounts from archeologists, recognizable names, and everyday people help bring to life the stories. Throughout the book, Schneider provides word pictures that allows the reader to travel with him and “experience” the Mississippi.

The Place

Unlike other posts on this blog, there isn’t one place to visit when it comes to the Mississippi River. You can see it from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. You can drive across it, float down it, or observe it. I have driven across it, walked along it (in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri), and gazed down on it (in Missouri). I remember the first time I saw it and how I was struck by the width of the river. It was winter in Illinois, so the Mississippi was frozen in many places. The second time, was in St. Louis in the summer. The river was wide and muddy, with barges slowly making their way south. To a certain extent, the Mississippi River is a part of the lore of our culture. It was the final hurdle to the west, it is a geographic barrier, it is a commercial highway, and it lives in narratives. No matter how you experience the Mississippi or what time or year it is, it is an incredible body of water.