Mississippi River stories and news

Tom Kelley: The River Belongs to Everybody (PDF)
Thomas Kelley, whose vision of the recreational value of the river led to the creation of the Mississippi River National River and Recreation Area, passed away on Thursday, July 19, 2007. Read about Tom in this January 2006 article. (PDF)

Lend a Hand
Volunteers on the river -- see what people are doing for the Upper Mississippi. A Big River exclusive series.

River History Museum in Lansing, Iowa
July-August 2005

Upper Mississippi Vineyards and Wineries
What does river bluff geology have to do with the flavor of Upper Mississippi wine?
September-October 2005

Looking Down on the River
Where is the Highest Blufftop and the Highest Overlook on the Upper Mississippi?
By Duke Addicks
May-June 2004

Grand Excursion Preview
Big River's exclusive series tells the story of the river places along the path of the 1854 and 2004 Grand Excursions. Published in 2003 and 2004.

Mississippi River Travelogues
By Curt Leitz
November-December 2001

Moving a Neighborhood Out of Harm’s Way
Empty streets, sidewalks and shade trees are all that remain of the old neighborhood on St. Feriole Island in Prairie du Chien, Wis.
By William J. Burke
December 1997

Order the Big River Reader

These stories are from the Big River Reader, selected by Grand Excursion 2004 for the River Exploration Trunks sent to 750 schools along the river.

The Mississippi Flood of 1965
Part 1 Part 2

Skiing the Backwaters

Ice Harvesting

Living in a Community of Floating Homes
By Trudy R. Balcom
May 1995

Snapper!
By Roger Lacher
June 1994

Canoeing the Big River
By Reggie McLeod
September 1994

Carp -- Queen of the River or Pig with Fins?
By Pamela Eyden
November 1993

Did the Corps Cook the Books? Big River series about the Corps of Engineers' Navigation Study, originally published in 2000 and 2001.