“Just Ducky,” 8″x10″ Gouache, By Donna Lyons © 2024
“Rollin’ along”
By Marty Coffin Evans © 2023
I’ve been around for millions of years just rolling along, from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. I’ve been part of settling this country and its western expansion. I’m a special place full of stories that excite the imagination.
Even from earlier territorial wars, treaties, fur trading, forts, and commerce, I’ve not seen it all. I know there’s more to come.
In my upper part, they’ve built locks and dams to control my water’s flow up and down the river. I used to change my course, just a little bit. That didn’t last too long!
Of course, periodically I change my depth enough to make navigating sandbars a challenge. I know, it’s not good to get stuck on them, but I can’t help how much sediment builds up or water comes each year. I can’t really apologize for my waters’ natural force.
Sometimes, I flow very fast and high and even cause flooding. Other times, I run slow and a little shallow. That makes navigating my waters “interesting” for all those different boat captains.
If I weren’t already big enough as the ole Mississippi River, others have joined my upper, middle and lower parts. There are so many names I can’t remember all of them. I do know the Ohio, Arkansas, and Missouri Rivers have joined along in making me so special. There are more complicated stories about the Red and Atachafala Rivers leaving me behind. I’m trying not to take that personally.
Towns have grown beside my banks. Years ago, steamboats were the big attraction as they floated town to town using my water to move them along. What a beautiful sight it was in those days. “Steamboats a comin’!” I remember hearing. Villagers would come running to see those beautiful paddlewheel boats and passengers.
Even today when these river boats dock, villagers come to meet the passengers. Locals guide visitors around their towns sharing stories about their unique place in history
Huge barges have continued to make their way up and down my waters. They’re not nearly as beautiful as those steamboats or other river vessels. Some of those barges are so big, they have to kinda split themselves to get through some of my locks. That feels weird having part of the barge in the lock before it’s moved on out and then joined by the rest.
I like how travelers enjoy all the recreation my water can provide. I’ve watched those small boats out early in the morning with fishermen hoping to lure something for a meal. Fish and waterfowl are plentiful in and around me. So too are wild game in some areas. You can see how I became popular for settlements with the surrounding abundance. Like all good things, that changes too.
I’ve made history as different industries formed near my banks. From lumber to buttons, flour mills and more, my place in commerce is well established. Some industries spoiled me decades ago with refuse from their plants. Many are now trying to clean me up a bit. I know I’ve been part of a few political battles during my lifetime. Maybe I still am.
Of course, I’ve had my share of fame, by being immortalized in scholarly works, novels, movies, songs, and musicals. I bet some can’t think of me without a song popping into their minds or remembering Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer stories.
Regardless of what they think, or even call me, I’m Mighty, Muddy, Majestic, the Great River. I’d say Beautiful too, and, as the song goes, “I just keeps rollin’ along!”
September 2025