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
Just across the main channel of the Mississippi River from downtown Winona, Minnesota, you’ll find a unique community of folks who live intimately with the river. Dozens of boathouses line the eastern shore of Latsch Island, and many of them are home to people who live there year-round. In this episode of the Mississippi
Back when fur trading was still a big deal, like from the 17th century to early in the 19th century, trappers, traders, Native Americans, and soldiers gathered once or twice a year to swap goods and stories. While the reasons for those annual meetings are long gone, the ritual is being kept alive by a
Dancing Feet For the past several years, Dakota of Minnesota have gathered for a weekend of education, reconciliation, and dancing in Winona. This year's Great Dakota Gathering takes on extra significance as 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of the Dakota conflict, a tragic series of events that left several hundred settlers dead, 38
Summer is almost here (here in St. Louis it feels like it has already arrived), so it's no wonder I've been thinking about burgers and car hops. If you are near Winona, you can do more than think about it. The Lakeview Drive Inn has been keeping Winona residents sated on fresh grilled burgers and
