The Mighty Mississippi

The Mississippi River

We have been living here in the Arkansas Delta with the Mississippi not 5 miles away and the awe inspiring length and width has amazed and inspired us to explore its shores, river towns, parks and exhibits.  The overflow from Lake Itaska at Itaska State Park in Minnesota is beginning of the Mississippi River which is the major river of North America and the United States at (2,339 miles) (3,765 km) in length. It flows from northwestern Minnesota south to the Gulf of Mexico, just below the city of New Orleans. It is a significant transportation artery and when combined with its major tributaries (the Missouri and Ohio rivers) it becomes the third largest river system in the world at (3,877 miles) (6,236 km) in length.

Dating back to 1938, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, the concept of a transcontinental Great River Parkway along the Mississippi River was developed by the governors of the 10 river states. Wishing to conserve precious resources - among them land, time and dollars - it was decided that rather than building a new continuous road, the existing network of rural roads and then-fledgling highways that meandered and crisscrossed the river would become the Great River Road.  In Helena AR The Delta Cultural Center is one of the seven interpretive centers coming through Arkansas and Mississipi.

Tunica Queen, Tunica MS



We ventured on a road trip through Tunica, MS one of the River Towns and planned to tour the Tunica River Park and Museum in which three floors envelope you in the heritage and history of  Mississippi River its people and their river towns. Unfortunately the flood in May did extensive damage to the museum and they had to temporarily close it to the public, we  plan on taking the one hour cruise down the river or the two dinner cruise on the Tunica Queen; a original paddle boat.



Helena AR levee Walk



Drive the Great River Road and experience the indescribable beauty that is The Mighty Mississippi River. Mark Twain wrote extensively about life in its shores that started with The Gilded Age (1871) “Old Times on the Mississippi” (1874), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), Life on the Mississippi (1883), Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)