Lake Pepin from Maiden Rock Bluff A quick roundup of news about Mississippi River projects: This feels like it has been a big year for the Mississippi, given the number of major books released and the interest in big projects about the river. If you haven't seen them, yet, you should check out
The American Queen pulled out of St. Louis at 6pm, three hours ahead of schedule. The Mississippi River was technically closed to commercial traffic, but the captain worked out a deal to let us pass by the trouble spot as long as we did it during daylight hours. Because of the early departure, a
The Great River Road along Lake Pepin The Mississippi River Parkway Commission, the folks responsible for marketing the Great River Road, are celebrating their 75th birthday this month, and they don’t look a day over 25! The Great River Road is the realization of an idea that is almost as old as the
Eddy Harris is a brave man. In the 1980s, he bought a canoe and paddled the Mississippi on his own, a feat that is challenging for the most experienced canoeists, which he wasn’t. Before the trip Harris knew what a canoe looked like but had spent little time trying to paddle one. He started his
Congratulations to Pokey LaFarge, who got a spot on the David Letterman show Monday night! Not only did Pokey give a shout-out to his hometown of St. Louis, but the song he played, Central Time, makes frequent reference to the Mississippi River. Central Time is on his new CD, called Pokey LaFarge; go buy it
American Queen in port at La Crosse, WI If you're looking for ideas for a late summer/early fall vacation, why not take a cruise on the Upper Mississippi River with the American Queen? I'll be a guest lecturer on three cruises in August and September, so we can travel together. How cool would
