The Mississippi Valley Traveler Podcast

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The Mississippi River has cut a deep path through the heart of America for thousands of years, but how well do we really know the river beyond Huck Finn and headline-grabbing floods? In this podcast, Dean Klinkenberg wades into stories about the character

Dean Klinkenberg


    • May 21, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 52m AVG DURATION
    • 60 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Mississippi Valley Traveler Podcast

    River to Table: Josh Galliano on Campfire Cooking

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 62:46


    Send us a textIn this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with accomplished chef and St. Louis area resident Josh Galliano. We talk about his path to becoming a chef and the family and cultural influences. He grew up in southern Louisiana near the Mississippi River, where he had regular access to fresh, seasonal products. Mostly, though, we talk about campfire cooking. Galliano prepares memorable meals on sandbars for a local outfitter, Big Muddy Adventures, and just generally loves the outdoors.We talked about the importance of advance preparation, what foods do and don't lend themselves well to campfire cooking, essential equipment, and maintaining cleanliness and food safety. We get distracted talking about paw paws, and Galliano offers some tips for breaking out of the hot dog and burger routine. We wrap up with a discussion about river-themed foods, which is the subject of a new cookbook he is working on. Whether you camp from your car like I often do, or hike or paddle for longer trips, you'll find Galliano's thoughts and tips helpful.

    Murder on the Mississippi: Frank Dodge Explores Identity and Deception on the River

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 26:26


    Send us a textIn 1964, four members of the Ku Klux Klan killed two African American men in Mississippi. The story of their murder and the following decades of stops and starts in the prosecution of their killers inspired my latest Frank Dodge mystery: Murder on the Mississippi. In this episode, I give some background on the murder of Dee and Moore and how their murder influenced my latest book. Murder on the Mississippi takes place on a Mississippi River cruise from New Orleans to Memphis. The story centers around the story of three African American sisters whose father was killed in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the 1970s by a gang of white men. They got a tip that the killers would be on the riverboat, so they booked a cruise to find them and hold them accountable. Their father's murder, though, impacted each sister differently, which is one of the main themes of the novel. And while trying to find the killers, Dodge and his friends learn that some people on the boat aren't who they claim to be. The book is already available for pre-order and officially releases on April 8, 2005.

    From Roots to Routes: Making the Leap to Full-Time RV Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 60:16


    Send us a textLiving out of an RV or van seems more possible than ever before, and, based on what's out there on social media, a lot of people have already taken the plunge. If you're someone who is curious about what it takes to make the switch to full-time RV life, this episode is for you. I talk with Patti Hunt, host of the RV Life podcast, and someone with plenty of first-hand experience. We focus mostly on her personal story as she and her husband made the switch from living in a house to living in an RV.  Patti describes how they prepared to make the switch, the priorities that guided their choice of RV, and how they eased into RV life. We talk about the challenges of getting used to living in a much smaller space, when it's advantageous to plan, and when it's not. She passes on a few tips she learned about the etiquette of RV life, managing health needs on the road, and dealing with emergencies. Finally, she shares how, above all, the community she connected with in the RV world has been the most meaningful part of the journey for her.

    Holding Back the Waters: The Upper Mississippi Flood of 1965

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 36:40


    Send us a textIn 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 for survival in Winona, where 1.3 million sandbags stood between 15,000 homes and the raging river. Experience the flood through the eyes of those who lived it—teenage volunteers working feverishly for $1.50 an hour, the Navy veteran who crawled through sewers to prevent catastrophic explosions, and the stubborn river dweller who, after losing everything declared, "Custer's last stand is over."With 40,000 people displaced, 19 lives lost, and damages exceeding $1 billion in today's dollars, the 1965 flood rewrote the relationship between river communities and the upper Mississippi. Yet most Americans know little about this watershed disaster.Don't miss this riveting account of nature's raw power and human resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. 

    Before MLK: Iowa's 19th-Century Civil Rights Pioneers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 25:21


    Send us a textIn this week's episode, we uncover the surprising story of Iowa's pivotal role in African American civil rights. From the groundbreaking 1839 court case that made Iowa a free territory to the remarkable story of Charlotta Pyles—a formerly enslaved woman who raised $3,000 through East Coast speaking tours to free her family members—we explore how this Midwestern state led the nation in civil rights advances.Learn about Alexander Clark, a self-made businessman who successfully fought to desegregate Iowa's schools nearly 90 years before Brown v. Board of Education, and hear the inspiring tale of the Pyles family's daring escape from Kentucky to freedom in Keokuk.Social Media

    Uncharted Currents: Jon Kukuk on Growing Up in a Small Town Next to the Mississippi River

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 74:20


    Send us a textYou may never have heard of Dallas City, Illinois, but to the folks who grew up there, Dallas City was idyllic. The town had a small but diverse business community. Crime was rare and mostly petty stuff. The local streams, creeks, and woods fed a child's curiosity. And the biggest playground, the Mississippi, challenged and calmed young and old.  Jon Kukuk is one of those folks whose childhood was shaped by the rhythms of life in this small town next to the Mississippi. Kukuk composed a CD's worth of songs and wrote a book about growing up in Dallas City. He called both collections Uncharted Currents, and they are loving tributes to the family and neighbors from his childhood.  In this episode, I talk with Jon about growing up as a free-range child in a small town next to the Mississippi River. He describes his favorite places, the family and friends who brought joy to his life, the tight-knit nature of the community, and the small businesses that kept folks supplied with the stuff they needed. He also explains what a slop jar was, and why you wanted to handle it carefully, and shares why music has also always been important to him.  Jon's stories tell us about life in a time and place often overlooked by standard historical texts. I hope Jon's efforts will inspire you to document and pass along your own stories of the people and places from times too easily forgotten.

    Trash Talk: Inside America's Largest River Cleanup Organization, Living Lands & Waters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 63:57


    Send us a textWhat started out as one guy with a jon boat picking up trash along the Mississippi in his hometown has since evolved into one of the largest, best known, most inspirational organizations in the country. In this episode, Educational Facilitator Mike Coyne-Logan describes how Living Lands & Waters (LLW) grew from the hands and mind of Chad Pregracke to the purpose-driven organization it is today. We talk about LLW's core mission and how it has evolved over time from clean ups to also include summer camps, planting trees, and teaching about conservation and stewardship. Clean ups remain their primary purpose, though, and they run them across the Midwest on rivers large and small, even a couple of lakes. Mike talks about the logistics required to arrange clean-ups, some of the unique items they've found, and how they managed to pull 52 cars out of the rivers around Pittsburgh. We talk about where all that trash comes from, what they do with it after it has been collected, and what we can each do as individuals to reduce the impact of trash in our rivers.

    River Songs & Gratitude: Wrapping up 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 17:23 Transcription Available


    Send us a textA busy year is coming to an end, so we're going to ease our way out of 2024 with a short episode that features a note of thanks and bonus interview content. This year, I asked eight interviewees to pick a song that represents something about their experiences with the Mississippi River. I've spliced together their picks for this episode, and they cover a lot of territory, from classic river songs to a couple of unexpected choices. While I can't include the songs in this podcast because of the copyright police, head to Spotify and look up “MVT Podcast Episode 53 playlist” to listen to them. I wish you all a relaxed and meaningful end to 2024. 

    What Can the Mississippi's Past Tell Us About Its Future? A Conversation with Historian John Anfinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 71:02


    Send us a textHistorian John Anfinson has spent much of his adult life working in jobs that keep him close to the Mississippi River, first with the US Army Corps of Engineers, then later with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a part of the National Park Service. In this episode, we have a wide-ranging discussion about his career as a river historian. During his tenure with the Corps of Engineers, for example, he learned of the work of Henry Bosse, whose photographs and maps documented the Mississippi before the lock and dam system was constructed. We discuss the early history of the lock and dam system, including a brief overview of the forces that propelled that project forward. Anfinson also describes the origins of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, how they've driven greater engagement with the river, and the challenges they face just letting people know they exist. We conclude with a few thoughts about the future of the river, from short-term challenges to the hope that more people will get involved to shape the river's future.

    Traveling the Mississippi One Week at a Time: Anne Sherve-Ose's 13-Year Journey Down the River

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 50:29


    Send us a textEvery year, dozens of people load up their canoes or kayaks and set out to travel the length of the Mississippi River. Anne Sherve-Ose and two friends took a different approach. Over the course of 13 years, they paddled the Mississippi River one week at a time. In this episode, I talk with Anne Sherve-Ose about those trips. She describes how the trips evolved and changed over time, shares an episode where they got stranded, and talks about the joys she experienced being on the river. We also talk about her history with outdoor adventures and taking adolescents and young adults on wilderness experiences, including a community college course she taught that included a week-long expedition in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area; students on that trip completed art projects to describe their personal experiences while camping and canoeing.

    The Dark Side of Steamboat Travel: The Disasters that Claimed Thousands of Lives on the Mississippi River

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 43:07


    Send us a textSteamboats revolutionized travel, dramatically shortening the time it took to get from place to place. When we think of the peak period of steamboat travel, we often picture images of tall boats with lacy trim and passengers dressed in finery relaxing in elegant lounges. But those steamboats were also prone to catastrophic failure that even the well-heeled passengers couldn't escape. In this episode, I describe the threats that steamboat passengers and crew faced every day: the dangers of floating debris in the river, worries about boat-engulfing fires, and the terror of a boiler explosion. I share a few first-hand accounts from survivors of steamboat disasters and describe a boiler explosion inflicted terrible suffering on one of our most beloved personalities, Mark Twain.

    Much More than Snakes: The Unexpected Beauty and Unique Ecology of Snake Road

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 73:07


    Send us a textIn this episode, I talk with wildlife biologist Mark Vukovich about the unique area known as Snake Road. Located about 40 miles south of Chester, Illinois, Snake Road passes through the LaRue-Pine Hills and Otter Pond Research Natural Areas. It's an area full of surprises any time of year, but it's best known for a few weeks in spring and fall when snakes move between the bluffs and nearby wetlands and the paved road is closed to protect them. In this episode, Mark talks about this unique ecological area and the 22 species of snakes that make it home. He offers tips for when to visit and how to be a respectful visitor and describes a citizen scientist project that he started. Mark also has responsibilities for forest management in the area, so we talk about the forests of that area, past and present, and the birds they attract. He offers a few thoughts to help identify migrating birds in the fall, when they may look and sound different from other times of year. 

    Explorers, Egos, and the Search for the Elusive Mississippi River Headwaters

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 35:48


    Send us a textToday, we all know—assume—that the Mississippi River begins at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota. How did we figure this out? Why does it matter? In this episode, I dig into the history of how European and American explorers searched the swamps and forests of Minnesota trying to figure out exactly where the Mississippi River springs to life, as well as what motivated their searches. Henry Schoolcraft is usually credited as the person who figured it out, but he had a lot of help, wasn't even the first Euro-American to visit the lake, and doubters continued to challenge his claim for another 60 years. I finish by asking what exactly we mean by a river's “source” and wondering if it's time to think much more broadly about how and where rivers begin.

    Winged Wonders: Unraveling the Mysteries of Dragonflies and Damselflies

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 43:15


    Send us a Text Message.Amy Janik has a passion for winged creatures, which is how her professional career shifted from birds to insects in the order Odonata—dragonflies and damselflies. In this episode, we go deep into their world. After Amy describes how she got interested in dragonflies and damselflies, she offers a few tips about how to tell them apart, describes the species native to the Midwest near the Mississippi River, what they like to eat, and their life cycles. Based on her experiences in the field researching dragonflies and damselflies, she suggests a few places that offer especially good viewing opportunities. It's everything you ever wanted to know about dragonflies and damselflies—and then some!

    When Change is Possible: General John A. Logan's Journey from Defending Slavery to Advocating for Equal Rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 66:03


    Send us a Text Message.John A. Logan grew up in a well-to-do household in Murphysboro, Illinois, in the years before the Civil War. He had political ambitions early, maybe even from the moment he took his first breath, but the trajectory of his career took some remarkable turns. In this episode, I talk with Betsy Brown and Laura Varner from the General John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro about his remarkable life and what lessons we might take from it. We talk about the early years of his political career, when, as a Democrat, he helped author laws that prevented Blacks, even free Blacks, from moving into Illinois. We discuss why he and most of his fellow southern Illinoisans opted to support the Union when civil war broke out and how Logan proved to be an exceptional military leader. We cover how his experiences during the Civil War had a profound impact on his view of slavery and African Americans, and how that led him to change political parties after the war and become a champion of equal rights for African Americans. After the war, Logan played a major role with a veterans group known as the Grand Army of the Republic, a group that helped establish the holiday that we now know as Memorial Day. Logan's wife Mary was every bit as impressive as him, and we spend some time talking about her life, as well, and her accomplishments after John passed away. The story of Logan's life is a big one, yet I think it's largely been lost to the pages of history. I think you'll quickly see how the story of his life offers lessons for us now and for the future.

    Iron and Immigrants: The Mesabi Range Story with Aaron Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 76:10


    Send us a Text Message.Aaron Brown is a writer, teacher, and lifelong resident of the Mesabi Iron Range, an area that has produced an enormous share of the iron ore that built America and won two world wars. In this episode, we take a look at the Iron Ranges of Minnesota with Aaron Brown as our guide. Aaron describes the geography of mining in Minnesota, the initial boom that drew thousands of immigrants to the area to work the mines, the experience of working in a mine, and how the continuous boom and bust cycles have shaped the lives of people in the area. We then talk about places folks should visit when they travel to the Mesabi Range and a few foods that should be on your short list. We finish with a few tips on how to connect with Bob Dylan's history in the area (he was born in nearby Duluth but grew up in Hibbing.)

    Outdoor Enthusiasm: Will Collins' Irrepressible Spirit for Adventure

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 65:23 Transcription Available


    Send us a Text Message.Some people have the outdoors in their blood. Will Collins is one of them. From the time he attended his first summer camp as a child, he felt drawn to the outdoors. In this episode, I talk with Will about his path from childhood summer camps in Wisconsin to multi-week expeditions in remote areas. In 2017, he paddled source-to-sea on the Mississippi River. I ask him how he planned for the trip, about the generosity of people he met along the way and the daily rhythms of a long-distance trip, and also about adjusting to life after the completion of a big expedition. The year after his Mississippi River trip, he paddled for 70 days on the Yukon River. He describes how that trip differed from paddling the Mississippi. Will's love for the outdoors extends well beyond his own expeditions, so we finish with a discussion of his podcast, Buffalo Roamer Outdoors, and the guided trips he coordinates. Will's enthusiasm for getting outside is infectious and may inspire you to get out for your own adventures.

    Mississippi River Monsters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 45:50


    Did a 70-foot-long river behemoth really lurk in the river's channel in the 1870s? Are there monsters in the river's depths that have eluded us so far? In this episode, we delve deep into the Mississippi's murky waters and mystical swamps to uncover stories about the terrifying creatures that we have imagined prowl the river. We also take a deep dive into a much smaller—and deadlier—monster along the river. The mosquito. We dig into stories about the swarms of mosquitoes that plagued early settlers, bugs that brought with them deadly diseases including malaria and yellow fever. We relate the stories of the devastating yellow fever epidemics that swept through cities New Orleans and Memphis, leaving a trail of death and despair.Are you brave enough to venture into the mystical, monster-filled world of the Mississippi? Don't forget your lucky charm—you're going to need it!NOTE: This episode includes graphic descriptions of the effects of yellow fever on the human body.

    Boyce Upholt on the Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi River

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 69:58 Transcription Available


    Very few people today have any memory of a relatively free-flowing Mississippi River. The scale and persistence of river engineering is staggering, and for many of us, the engineered Mississippi is the only Mississippi we have known. That's one reason journalist Boyce Upholt's new book is so important. In The Great River: The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi, Boyce details our century-plus history of tinkering with the natural Mississippi to remake it into a river that suits our wants and needs.In this interview, Boyce and I talk about how he got interested in the Mississippi, the relentless engineering projects we've pursued to alter the river for commerce and flood protection, who manages the river, and what values have ultimately been driving these changes. He describes the costs of these projects, not just the dollars but also the loss of ecosystems and wildlife. We finish by talking about the importance of making a personal connection to the Mississippi and how there are many ways to do so. This interview is ultimately a wide-ranging discussion of the river's past and future. In the Mississippi Minute, I praise John Ruskey and the Quapaw Canoe Company for how they've influenced me and the importance of their work bringing people to the river. The Quapaw Canoe Company has been struggling financially since the Covid pandemic, and they are currently running a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to secure their future. Please consider helping.

    A Refuge for All: 100 Years of Conservation and Recreation at the Upper Mississippi Refuge

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 69:05 Transcription Available


    This year marks a major milestone, not just along the Mississippi but for conservation efforts across the United States. In June, the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge will celebrate its 100th anniversary. In this episode, I talk with Sabrina Chandler, Refuge Manager and Hallie Shulz, Visitor Services Manager about the past, present and future of the refuge. We talk about the early years, about the tasks the early managers faced to establish the refuge. We also talk about how the refuge's conservation mission and public use have changed over time. We praise the thousands of volunteers, many organized as part of one of the Friends groups, who help care for these precious public lands. The refuge has been a success by nearly any measure, but they still face significant threats, particularly from climate change and invasive species. Still, this is a year to celebrate, so we finish by highlighting a few of the events happening this summer to mark the refuge's centennial. In the Mississippi Minute, I give a shout out to many other federal refuges that protect land and water along the Mississippi River.

    Trouble in River City: Kevin Klinkenberg on Why So Many Communities Are Struggling

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 67:31


    If you're like me, as you've driven along the Mississippi River, or even around the country, you've noticed communities that aren't doing too well. Many of these are older urban areas, but I see plenty of small towns struggling, too. What's going on? Isn't this just the free market at work? To dig into this issue, I invited my brother, Kevin Klinkenberg, onto the podcast. Kevin is an architect and planner who has spent much of his career working to improve communities. In this episode, we talk about what makes cities and towns good places to live. Kevin describes the traditional way that cities and towns developed and how we upended all that in the United States. Kevin briefly details some of the policies that transformed development patterns and the consequences of those policies. We finish by looking at two Mississippi River towns—one that is doing well and one that isn't. Kevin emphasizes that there are no silver bullets to magically turn places around, but communities aren't helpless, either. In the Mississippi Minute, the American Queen has been in the news, but for all the wrong reasons. The company went bankrupt, and a rival bought their boats in the bankruptcy auction. Will the American Queen return to river cruising? We don't know, yet, but you can let the company know you'd like to see that happen. 

    Introducing The Wild Mississippi: Your Guide to Understanding and Experiencing the Natural World of Old Man River

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 32:12


    For years, I've been visiting the places along the Mississippi and writing guidebooks about the history and culture of the towns and people. Now I've got something new to add to the list: a guide to the natural history of the river itself. In my new book, The Wild Mississippi: A State-by-State Guide to the River's Natural Wonders, I describe the complex and varied world of the Mississippi River and offer practical tips about how to experience the river's world. In this episode, just ahead of the book's formal release on May 21, I talk about The Wild Mississippi, so you know what to expect from it: how it's organized and what content to expect. I also pull back the curtain and describe what I set out to do with this book and why I included what I did. But, wait: there's more! At the end of the episode, I read the preface, so you can get a sneak peek at what's to come. 

    Crooked Old River: Trapper Haskins' Mississippi River Voyage

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 74:00


    In July 2002, Trapper and Mandy Haskins set out an epic trip to row a handcrafted boat down the Mississippi. The boat performed great, but the grind of dodging industrial traffic around Baton Rouge wore them down, so they ended the trip at New Orleans. That decision turned out to be hard for Trapper to live with, so a few years later, he and his family put the boat back in the Mississippi where they'd left off in 2002. The last 100 miles presented more drama and challenges than they had imagined, but they made it to the Gulf. Trapper wrote a book about the experience called Crooked Old River that releases on April 13 (2024).In this episode, I talk with Trapper about his childhood experiences with the Mississippi growing up in Memphis, how he got interested in boat building and the idea that sparked an interest in rowing down the Mississippi, how he and his wife prepared for the trip, his love of history and how that added to the experience, the circumstances around ending their trip early in 2002, and then going back years later. Trapper talks about how the trip changed him and how traveling on a river can encourage introspection and reflection. In the Mississippi Minute, I look ahead to a busy summer of Mississippi-themed books to read. From sweeping histories of the river itself, to novels that reimagine river life from new perspectives, you'll have plenty to keep you busy this year.

    The Fight for the Upper Mississippi: Steven Marking on Will Dilg and the Birth of a Refuge

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 56:50


    In 1924, Will Dilg and the newly formed Izaak Walton League of America fought the proposed drainage of the lush Winneshiek Bottoms near Lansing, Iowa by lobbying for the creation of a new, unprecedented-in-scope federal refuge. In less than a year, they succeeded, and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge was born. This year, events throughout the upper Mississippi mark its centennial.Will Dilg was probably more responsible for the success than anyone else. He was one founder of the Izaak Walton League and intimately familiar with the channels and islands of the upper Mississippi River. In this episode, I talk with Steven Marking, a musician and riverlorian who was so fascinated by Dilg's story that he wrote an entire show about him.In this episode, Marking talks about his own childhood on and near the Mississippi and explains how he felt connected to Dilg. We talk about Dilg's love of the upper Mississippi, a tragedy on the river that changed his life, his role with the Izaak Walton League and lobbying for the refuge creation. We also talk about some of Dilg's character traits that didn't always endear him to others. We finish with a description of the new show that Marking created about Dilg.In the Mississippi Minute, I preview some events coming up this summer to mark the centennial and mention a couple of my favorite spots.

    Flowing with Creativity: Sculptor Florence Bird and the Mississippi River

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 36:14


    The Mississippi River has inspired artists of many stripes, including Prairie du Chien-based sculptor Florence Bird. In this episode, I talk with Bird about her path into a career as a professional artist, how she found inspiration from the Mississippi, and the details of how she goes from idea to a life-sized bronze statue. Bird is enthusiastic about her art and the Mississippi and was an absolute delight to interview. I start this episode with a brief review of the history of the area that Bird finds so inspiring.In the Mississippi Minute, it's spring! But it's also very early for spring, especially Up North. I describe some of the action going on and wonder what you're seeing in your part of the river.

    Eclipse 2024: Getting the Most from the Experience in Missouri and Illinois

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 56:44 Transcription Available


    On April 8, 2024, a full solar eclipse will make is way across North America from Texas to the Northeast. It'll cross the Mississippi River south of St. Louis. Much of southeast Missouri and all of southern Illinois will be in the path of totality, with some places experiencing the eclipse for just over four minutes, including Trail of Tears State Park just north of Cape Girardeau. Many of these places were in the path of another total eclipse just 7 years ago. In this episode, I talked with Alison Dubbert from Missouri State Parks and Cory Jobe from Great Rivers and Routes in Alton, Illinois. We gave an overview of the places that will have a good view of the total eclipse in Missouri and Illinois, with an emphasis on public lands, and some of the special events going on to celebrate it. Accommodations will be hard to come by in the eclipse zone if you haven't booked a place yet, so we offered some tips about where you should look. We have some tips for daytrippers, too, and a few thoughts on how to deal with the expected crowds. (Hint: Be patient.) We also talked about some of the lessons learned from 2017, when crowds got very big in many places. In the Mississippi Minute, I share a few memories about viewing the eclipse in 2017.

    Ripples Through Time: River Travelers Take Us to the Mississippi's Past and Present

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 41:05


    In The Log of the Easy Way, John Mathews wrote about a honeymoon trip he and his wife took in 1900. No, they didn't relax at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica; they traveled a couple thousand miles down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers in a homemade shantyboat. Their book is just one of many written by people who have taken a long trip on the Mississippi, from Charles Lanman's trip in 1841 straight to shantyboat travelers like Mathews and on to the present and the many books from long-distance paddlers on the Mississippi. In this episode, I offer a few impressions about what these books have to say about the Mississippi, what it was like in the past and what it is today. While river travelers weren't shy about detailing what they liked and what they didn't, their stories go far beyond expressing simple preferences.Stories from people who traveled the Mississippi at different points in time illuminate how we've changed the river's world. Wildlife sightings are less common than they used to be, for one thing. They also highlight the transition from the wonder travelers felt at the river's natural abundance to the days when we dumped anything and everything into the river to today when water quality is much better. The books document the increasing presence of engineers, especially from the Army Corps of Engineers, along the river, and the coincident decline in communities of people who lived off the river. The accounts of river travelers offer a peek inside those vanished river communities, along with unflinching descriptions of the deeply held prejudices toward African Americans and Native Americans, views that many of the travelers themselves shared. Join me in this episode and let's time travel along the Mississippi River!In the Mississippi Minute, I suggest a few books from river travelers that I think you'll enjoy.

    Steering Through the Currents: Lee Hendrix's Life Working on the Mississippi River

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 74:03 Transcription Available


    What's it like to work on a riverboat? Lee Hendrix entered riverboat work in 1972 as a deckhand, worked his way up to mate, then into the pilothouse. He has spent most of his adult life as a pilot of riverboats big and small, from tows pushing barges to elegant overnight cruise ships. In his new book, Peep Light: Stories of a Mississippi River Boat Captain, Lee shares stories from those years on the river. In this interview, we talk about how he got his start working on the river, the grueling but satisfying work of a deckhand, and the jobs on a towboat. We also discuss his path to the pilothouse, the basics of steering a tow pushing a load of barges, and the differences between piloting big and small boats. Near the end, Lee talks about the allure of river life and the long, sometimes lonely life of working on a towboat. In the Mississippi Minute, I offer a few tips for paddling on the Mississippi River around commercial and recreational boat traffic.Find out more about the Mississippi River at mississippivalleytraveler.com.

    The River Life: Five Women Discuss Their Paths and Passions as Mississippi River Guides

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 78:59


    Men have dominated the world of outdoor adventuring and guiding for so long, that it's easy to overlook the increasing presence of women in all spheres. More women now complete long-distance paddles on the Mississippi, as well as through hikes on the major trails. The world of guided paddling on the Mississippi reflects the trend. In this episode, I talk with five women who worked this past season as river guides on the Mississippi for one of the outfitters or river-focused organizations. I asked each to talk about their paths to guiding, to describe their stretch of the Mississippi, and to spotlight a few places and experiences that highlighted their year. At the end of the conversation, I asked each woman to identifying something about their experience on the Mississippi this year that they're grateful for. You'll hear from:Amber “Sparky” Lynum from Paddle Bridge in the Twin CitiesMelissa Sauter from the Mississippi River Water Trail Association in St. LouisHeather “Red River Otter” Crosse from the Quapaw Canoe Company in Clarksdale, MississippiCory Maria Dack and Sarah Lent In the Mississippi Minute, I mention a few things that I'm grateful for.

    The Storm that Took the Midwest by Surprise: Armistice Day's Deadly Blizzard

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 35:08


    It's easy to take weather forecasting for granted, especially given the difficulties with producing accurate forecasts, but at least we almost never get surprised by big storms. That wasn't true in 1940, when an unusually warm November day turned deadly. In this episode, I tell the story of the Armistice Day Blizzard, a massive storm that plowed through the central part of the United States, shutting down cities and killing around 200 people. Thousands of people scrambled for makeshift shelter in downtown Minneapolis, while rural families took in hundreds of school children when buses got stuck in snow drifts. Duck hunters, though, were hit the hardest. The storm stranded hundreds of them in perilous conditions along the Mississippi River. Dozens died. The storm also brought out the best in many people, as strangers helped strangers, and ordinary people went to extraordinary lengths to rescue storm victims. This story is an except from my book Mississippi River Mayhem. In the Mississippi Minute, I have a few thoughts about low water on the Mississippi, and— hint— I don't see it as a tragedy.

    Understanding the True Costs and Real Risks of Levees with Nicholas Pinter

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 62:44 Transcription Available


    Drive anywhere along the Mississippi or most any other river and you'll see a levee, an earthen wall that parallels the river to keep water in the main channel and out of the adjacent floodplain. In this episode, I talk with Nicholas Pinter about levees and the good and bad that has come with them. We discuss the evolution in responsibility from local jurisdictions to the federal government, how levees have altered the ecology of big rivers, and who pays for them. We talk about how levees provide a false sense of security and the concept of residual risk, which is one way to quantify how much of our property and lives is at risk behind levees. We also talk about options for reversing some of the worst damage from levees and the obstacles to putting them in place. Levees didn't just rise on their own, of course. In the Mississippi Minute, I give a brief history of who built the levees and the deplorable working conditions that were often present in levee camps, especially for Black workers. And in the end, I offer a playlist of songs about levees and levee camps.

    Wolves in Myth and Reality with Matt Fox

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 61:14 Transcription Available


    I don't know if there's another animal that has been simultaneously reviled and admired like wolves. We have a primal fear of them—their howls can make the bravest among us pick up their pace. But wolves also occupy a unique place in many cultural myths representing family, loyalty, and intelligence. In this episode, I talk with conservation biologist Matt Fox about those contradictions and much more. Fox describes the two species that are native to the Mississippi Valley—red and gray wolves—and how they're doing today, then we get into their life cycles, myths about their behavior, and how they deeply influence the ecosystems in which they live. We also talk about our conflicting and troubled relationships with wolves and what we may be able to do to turn that around. In the Mississippi Minute, I mention two places where you can see and learn about wolves up close and personal, the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota, and the Endangered Wolf Center near St. Louis, Missouri.

    Cruising the Culinary Mississippi: A Conversation with Chef Regina Charboneau

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 62:52 Transcription Available


    In this episode of the podcast, we wade into food traditions in the places along the Mississippi. Chef Regina Charboneau, a 7th generation Natchezian and author of Mississippi Current Cookbook: A Culinary Journey Down America's Greatest River, is our guide as we talk about food traditions in places as different as Minnesota and Natchez, Mississippi. Chef Regina talks about her path to a stellar culinary career that has included owning a popular restaurant in San Francisco and her role as culinary director for the American Queen Steamboat Company. We talk about the foods that have inspired her and how her love of regional food is helping me reshape the menus on river cruises. We also spend a few minutes getting to the essentials of enjoying catfish.In the Mississippi Minute, we continue the food theme. I talk with St. Louis' Andy Fair about gelato, sourcing local food, and his dreams for the restaurant he owns, the Gelateria Coffee Company.

    Cafe Connections: Finding Community and Connection Along the Great River Road

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2023 37:02


    Coffee shops, bars, diners, churches, bowling alleys—these are all important places in our social lives, so-called third places after home and work. When I'm traveling, I am drawn to them, whether I'm traveling for work or fun. They are not only great places to learn about the community, but I've also made new friends at many of them. In this episode, I share a list of some of the places where I've had especially good luck meeting people and offer a few tips about being a good guest. This list covers places from northern Minnesota to Mississippi, and includes a mix of businesses, from coffee shops to craft breweries and bars to restaurants. In the Mississippi Minute, I share my love for Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota.

    Navigating Stormy Waters, Part 2: General Galloway on Flood Policy 30 Years after the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1993

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2023 46:43


    Welcome back! Last week, I shared the first part of my conversation with General Gerry Galloway, the person chosen by President Clinton to lead a review what happened in 1993 and what could be done to prevent such extensive damage in the future. Because our discussion ran long, I split it into two episodes. Check out the previous episode to hear the first half of our conversation, as well as a summary of the events of the 1993 flood. In this episode, our discussion turns to talking about how we define and count costs and benefits for river projects, and how those analyses have slowly moved beyond simple mathematical formulas. We also talk about the difficulties with trying to assign dollar values to many of the benefits, including environmental benefits. We touch on issues related to who has a voice in determining river management policies, as well as what values our policy choices reflect. We end by talking about the idea of sustainable infrastructure, one of General Galloway's primary interests. In the Mississippi Minute, I have a few thoughts about how federalizing projects blurs the lines between people who merely have an interest and those who have a stake. 

    Navigating Stormy Waters: General Galloway on Flood Policy 30 Years after the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1993, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2023 54:16


    In 1993, the Great Mississippi River Flood upended lives throughout the Midwest, although the greatest damage was in the Mississippi River floodplain from the Quad Cities south to around Cairo, Illinois. Thousands of people were forced into temporary shelters, and 52 people. In the aftermath of the flooding, President Clinton established a commission to review the events of the Great Flood and to make recommend policies that could reduce future damages from big floods. He appointed Gen. Gerry Galloway to head the commission, which, after its release, became known as the Galloway report.In this episode of the Mississippi Valley Traveler podcast, I have a wide-changing conversation with Gen. Galloway to review how we've done in the past 30 years to prepare for floods and reduce damages from those inevitable periods of high water. Our conversation went long, so I'm splitting the interview into two parts. In part one, we talk about how flood policy has evolved since 1993 and get into some of the difficult issues were still facing, such as who is ultimately responsible for flood protection and dealing with the risks of high water, who should pay for it, the challenges of coordinating floodplain policies among federal, state, and local governments and how expectations of federal bailouts can complicate those policies; the newer problems we're facing with intense rainfall events that flood urban areas like the recent flooding in Burlington, Vermont, and the complications and problems with the federal flood insurance program.In the Mississippi Minute, I share a couple of my memories from the flooding around St. Louis in 1993, but mostly I want to hear from you. What are your stories from the Great Flood of 1993? Share your stories with me at MississippiValleyTraveler.com/contact, and I'll choose a few to share on the next podcast. 

    Swamp Whisperer: Going Deep into Honey Island with Guide Jessica Gauley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 43:44


    Louisiana is known for its swamps, and for good reason. In spite of some of the associations with have with the word swamp, I find them beautiful, mysterious, and magnetic. In this episode, I talk with Jessica Gauley about a section of swamp along the Pearl River known as Honey Island. Jessica grew up with the swamp and today runs Honey Island Kayak Tours, a company that specializes in intimate tours of the swamp. We talk about her childhood in the swamp, the rich plant and animal life at Honey Island, how the swamp changes with the seasons, and the fears inspired by the word swamp. She offers a few tips on visiting and paddling around Louisiana's swamps. Alligators come up a couple of times in our conversation, so in the Mississippi Minute, I offer a brief peak into the world of alligators.

    Vanishing Giants: Looking Back at the Legacy of the Great Pine Forests of the North and the Loggers who Brought Them Down

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 35:00


    Dense forests of white and red pine once ranged across northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Tall, ancient trees that were part of a rich ecosystem well-adapted to the northern climate and one that had evolved to rely on periodic fires to stay healthy. Those trees were also highly desired by logging companies and builders who needed vast amounts of lumber to feed the appetites of growing communities in the middle part of America. In this episode, I describe what those forests were like, then get into stories from the era when those forests were leveled. I talk about the logging camps, the men who worked in them, and life in the communities that grew up around those camps. You'll hear stories about the daily life for a logger, the speed of frontier justice, and the rapid decline of the industry. People once believed that those tall trees were a virtually infinite resource, yet almost of them were taken down in Minnesota and Wisconsin in just a couple of decades. I finish with a few thoughts on what those forests are like today. In the Mississippi Minute, I talk about a couple places where it's still possible to walk around old growth pine forests. 

    From Ancient to Modern: Exploring the Timeless Legacy of Canoes in North America with Mark Neuzil

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 69:20 Transcription Available


    People in North America have been getting around in canoes for thousands of years. The basic design was so perfectly engineered that we're still using it today. In this episode, I talk with Mark Neuzil, who co-wrote “Canoes: A Natural History in North America” with Norman Sims. We talk about the basic design, variations in materials used to build them from traditional bark canoes and dugouts to modern composites. We cover the ways canoes were engineered for specific purposes, and the transition from canoes as transportation to canoeing for fun. Mark shares a couple of standout memories from canoe trips he's taken, and in the Mississippi Minute, I share a couple of my own. Paddles up! We're all about canoes in this episode!

    Michael Anderson on Celebrating the Mississippi with River Days of Action 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 59:27 Transcription Available


    It's summer, which means it's a great time to get out on or along the Mississippi River, and this year's version of River Days of Action is a great place to start. In this bonus episode, I talk with Michael Anderson, Director of Outreach and Education for the Mississippi River Network, about what's happening for River Days of Action this year, why it matters, and how anyone can participate. We also talk about how Michael cultivated his own strong connection with the river and his hopes for the kind of Mississippi River he'd like his children to know. In the Mississippi Minute, I talk about the mental health benefits of spending time along the river and being outside.

    Kimmswick Mayor Philip Stang on Living in and Managing the Historic Mississippi River Town

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 73:39 Transcription Available


    What are the challenges involved with managing a small rivertown? And how does a dyed-in-the-wool Northeasterner and international business consultant end up living in a small town on the Mississippi River in the middle of America? That's the path Philip Stang has followed to Kimmswick, Missouri, where he has served multiple terms as Mayor. In this wide-ranging interview, we pull the curtain back for a look at what it takes to manage the historic community. We talk about his old career as a corporate consultant, his current life as an artist, and his entry into local politics. We discuss challenges that include fighting floods that are increasingly threatening and looking for ways to diversify the small town's revenues. And we do it all with plenty of laughs along the way. In the Mississippi Minute, I offer a few tips for visiting Kimmswick, including what to expect when you visit for one of the city's two big festivals. 

    Revisiting the Legacy of the Marquette and Jolliet Expedition 350 Years On

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 75:31


    On May 17, 1673—350 years ago—Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette began an epic trip from the Great Lakes through Wisconsin and down the Mississippi River, one that would prove to be enormously consequential for European colonial ambitions and for the lives of indigenous people in the region. In this episode, I talk with Michael Douglass, an enthusiastic historian and former director of Villa Louis Historic Site in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, who has a deep and abiding interest in the expedition. We cover a lot of ground in this discussion, beginning with the context in which the expedition occurred, mainly New France's ambitions to advance their economic and colonial interests and the status of many indigenous communities after decades of losses from disease and war. We then get into the progress of the trip itself, the indigenous communities impacted by the trip, and discuss recent concerns about the reliability of the documents that we've been using to understand the trip. In the Mississippi Minute, l describe a few of the events happening in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, this summer to mark the 350th anniversary of this trip and a few ways folks can visit sites associated with the expedition.

    My Mississippi River: Five People on What the Mississippi Means to Them

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 42:44 Transcription Available


    What's your Mississippi River like? Why do you keep coming back? For many people, the Mississippi means barges and Mark Twain, but the river is so much more than that. In this episode, we hear from five people who have a strong connection with the river that doesn't involve barges or Mark Twain: a writer and poet, a sculptor, two long-distance paddlers, an owner of a guiding company, and an artist. They describe how they got interested in the Mississippi, their experiences of time along the river, and what time along the river means to them. Thanks to the Mississippi River Network for providing the funding and encouragement that made this project possible. In the Mississippi Minute, I have a few thoughts on the way we cover and think about the normal cycle of high water in spring.

    Boundaries and Bridges

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2023 56:21


    It seems to be in our nature to draw lines that separate us from this or that. Rivers offer a convenient way for us to draw some of those lines, those boundaries, especially big rivers. In this episode, I tell a few stories about how we've used the Mississippi River to draw political lines, some of which didn't quite go according to plan. (Ever wonder why Minnesota has that funny hat-shaped addition at the top?) I also look at how the Mississippi River marked a boundary between freedom and oppression for pre-Civil War African Americans in St. Louis and dig into the troubles we've made for ourselves by trying to define a hard boundary between land and water along a big river. We eventually, inevitably, built bridges—over a hundred of them!—to span the Mississippi and make crossing that boundary much easier. I take a look at what was involved in building a few of the earliest bridges, from the very first bridge to span the river at Minneapolis to its most enduring (the Eads Bridge at St. Louis). In the Mississippi Minute, I offer a tribute to a friend who passed away this year, David Lobbig, and wonder who will pick up his legacy of busting boundaries.

    Winona's Unique Community of Floating Houses

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 61:33 Transcription Available


    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 Traveler Podcast, I talk with Gina Favano about her recent podcast, Back Channel Radio, that took a deep dive into the world of Winona's boathouse community. We talk about how the boathouses trace their roots to the shantyboats of an earlier era, the battles to protect the legal rights of boathouse residents, and some of the big personalities who called the boathouse community home. We also talk about what it takes to live full-time in a boathouse, the hard work required most days, and the joys of living so intimately with the Mississippi. In the Mississippi Minute, I recommend a book about the boathouses of the Upper Mississippi that takes a broader look at these unique structures and the people who enjoy them.

    Spring Birding Hikes... and Beer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 30:22 Transcription Available


    Spring is in the air, at least for the lower two-thirds of the Mississippi Valley. Birds are on the move already, and early spring flowers are popping up in my part of the river. With migration season just getting going, it's a good time to talk about a few places where it's relatively easy to appreciate all those birds on the move.In this episode, I describe five day trips that'll get you outside and close to the birds. Each day trip includes two or three places to hike and ends with a recommendation about where you can rest and refuel with beer (or another beverage of your choice) and food. The day trips in this episode are based around New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois, and Galena, Illinois. In the Mississippi Minute, the spring rises along the river remind me of flood walls and the creative ways some river cities have tried to decorate them with art.

    The Remarkable Earthworks and People of Poverty Point

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 58:03


    Over 3,000 years ago, a community of people who lived off the land constructed a remarkable group of earthworks that includes mounds, a plaza, and a series of C-shaped rings where they probably built houses. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Diana Greenlee about this amazing place, Poverty Point World Heritage Site. We talk about the various earthworks that make up the site, how they were built, and what we know about the people who built them. Dr. Greenlee patiently corrects my misunderstandings about the site, and clearly explains what we know about it. In the Mississippi Minute, I'm reminded about a piece of river history that can give us hope today.

    Hidden History, Facebook Photos Group, and River-Inspired Poetry

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 28:14


    If there's one thing we love to debate, it's history and what history we should teach and idolize. In this episode, I share a few thoughts about the history we know and why we should dig deeper into stories from the past. I also interview the founder of the Mississippi River Photos group on Facebook, Norman Schafer, and share a Mississippi River-inspired poem from New Orleanian Jorge Abadin.

    All About Bald Eagles with Ed Hahn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 72:04 Transcription Available


    Bald eagles! January and February are popular months for eagle watching along the Mississippi River, as the birds congregate near open water along the river where the fishing is easy. In this episode, I go deep into the lives of bald eagles with Ed Hahn, Director of Marketing and Communications at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. Got a question about the lives of bald eagles? We probably answer it in this episode, from the challenges faced by fledglings to the solitary lives of adults. Ed describes the acrobatic ways that eagles choose a mate, as well as how (and why) they build their massive nests. We cover how they bounced back from near extinction and some of the threats that they still face today, and so much more!

    11. Jeff Grunwald on the New Madrid Earthquakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2022 52:57


    Early in the morning of December 16, 1811, residents of New Madrid, Missouri were literally shaken out of their beds. One of the largest earthquakes in United States history shocked and disoriented residents of the busy frontier town. For several weeks, earthquakes continued to tremble and terrify folks and, in the process, rearrange the land and reshape the Mississippi River. In this episode, I talk with Jeff Grunwald, the administrator of the New Madrid Historical Museum, about those earthquakes, what it was like to live through them, and their legacy on the area around New Madrid. In the Mississippi Minute, I talk about Bubbleland, the geographic oddity on the other side of the Mississippi from New Madrid.

    10. Victoria Bradford Styrbicki on Relay of Voices

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 63:38


    In 2019, Victoria Bradford Styrbicki ran the length of the Mississippi River. Not content with the physical challenge of doing that, she used the run as a way to hear about people's lives and their stories about the Mississippi River. In this episode of the podcast, I talk with Victoria about the project called Relay of Voices, about the inspiration and the physical challenges. We also talk about the importance of listening, about what she learned about our relationship with the big river, and about the upcoming launch of her new website that will showcase the people she met. In the Mississippi Minute, I confront my irrational fear of spiders and do a little research about orb weavers.

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