The Mississippi's first metropolis -- Founding river city -- The riverside village -- Washing away boundaries -- The Wiggins Ferry Company -- The first steamboat -- A world colored by water -- Bloody island -- The mountain men of St. Louis -- Nomads on the levee -- The American Nile -- Lee's plan to tame the Mississippi -- Tourists and entrepreneurs -- The Missouri leviathan -- Digging up the river's graveyard -- When the river brought ruin, part 1 -- When the river brought ruin, part 2 -- Thirteen blocks, a world apart -- Life on a St. Louis steamboat -- "Dreadful explosion and loss of life" -- Mississippi River panoramas -- The levee's new faces -- The big drain -- The ice gorge -- The St. Louis levee, born again -- Over there -- Mark Twain in St. Louis -- Ironclads and floating hospitals -- The Mississippi River's future great city -- "The social evil" -- Rivers beneath St. Louis -- Keeping the taps running -- The Eads Bridge -- The Exodusters -- Leaving the river behind -- The north and south riverfronts -- Drinking the "Mississippi relish" -- The river made beautiful -- Daredevils on the water -- Waves of garbage -- The St. Louis Blues -- Refuge across the river -- Some unexpected guests -- The Streckfus excursion boats -- The bridges of the mother road -- Hooverville -- The riverfront's blank canvas -- Five decks of fun -- St. Louis's future front door -- Building the Gateway Arch -- The Mississippi River Festival -- Saving what remained -- A celebration for all St. Louisans -- The great flood -- The welcome mat -- A new vision for the Gateway Arch.
Summary:
"This book examines the importance of the Mississippi River across time and through the lens of a single city: St. Louis. Features hundreds of maps, artifacts, and fascinating historic images, spanning back to St. Louis's founding and even earlier"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.