From the brothels of post-Civil War-era St. Louis to the streets of New Orleans' Storyville, this episode traces the history of prostitution along the Mississippi River — and the endless tug-of-war between tolerance, regulation, and suppression that has defined it. We start with Eliza Haycraft, a remarkable St. Louis woman who arrived penniless by
In April 1965, the Upper Mississippi River surged to heights never before recorded, threatening to swallow entire towns whole. This episode plunges you into the chaos as the perfect storm—deep snowpack, torrential rain, and frozen ground—transformed America's greatest river into an unstoppable force. Journey from the imperiled bridges of Minneapolis to the desperate fight
A backwater pond shrouded in fog, late fall, near La Crosse, Wisconsin (photo taken Nov 2010). See more photos here. Foggy backwater pond
Lookout Point in Hixon Forest We continue our May trek along Wisconsin's west coast with a stop high above La Crosse. Hixon Forest's 800 acres are criss-crossed by 13 miles of trails for hikers and dirt bikers, winding their way up and across several bluffs with great views of the region. I was
Bluffs near La Crosse, Wisconsin (picture taken December 2010). Upper Mississippi River bluffs in winter
The Waterfront Restaurant; La Crosse, Wisconsin The Waterfront Tavern and Restaurant is one of those civilized places that begs us to slow down, sip a fine beverage, and leisurely sate our hunger. As the last of the season's pleasant days wind down, enjoy selections from the inventive menu on the riverside patio or,
