Mississippi River Collection (#18)

EADS BRIDGE, ST LOUIS. The Eads Bridge (built 1867-74) across the Mississippi River at St. Louis. Wood engraving, 19th century

REVIVAL MEETING. A revivalist preaching a Sunday service on the levee at St. Louis, Missouri. Wood engraving, American, 1882

P. F. X. de CHARLEVOIX (1682-1761). The Jesuit, Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix
P.F.X. de CHARLEVOIX (1682-1761). The Jesuit, Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix, travelling down the Mississippi River, 1720-22. 19th century engraving

DE SOTO: MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Hernando de Soto discovering the Mississippi River on 21 May 1541. Steel engraving, American, 19th century, after a painting by William Henry Powell

PIERRE CHARLEVOIX (1682-1761). Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix. French Jesuit traveller in America. Charlevoix travelling down the Mississippi River, 1720-1722. Line engraving, 19th century

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, 1854. View of St. Louis, Missouri. Line engraving, American, 1854

MISSISSIPPI FLOOD, 1882. The nightime rescue of inhabitants along the Mississippi River during the spring flood of 1882: wood engraving from a contemporary American newspaper

MISSISSIPPI: COTTON STEAMER. Loading a cotton steamer on the Mississippi. Wood engraving, 1887
MISSISSIPPI:COTTON STEAMER. Loading a cotton steamer on the Mississippi. Wood engraving, 1887

ST. ANTHONY FALLS, MN. A view of the Falls of St. Anthony, showing the site of the city of Minneapolis. The earliest known American magazine engraving of the Mississippi River, 1796

ST. LOUIS: LEVEE. A view of the levee at St. Louis. Wood engraving, late 19th century

EADS BRIDGE, ST LOUIS. The St. Louis Bridge during construction. The Eads Bridge (built 1867-74) across the Mississippi River at St. Louis. Wood engraving, c1872

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, 1847. View of St. Louis, Missouri. Line engraving, American, 1847

VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. A view of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Wood engraving, 1855

LOUIS HENNEPIN (1640-1701). French missionary and explorer in America. Father Hennepin at St. Anthonys Falls in the upper Mississippi region, 1680. Wood engraving after Felix O.C. Darley, 19th century

SIOUX ENCAMPMENT. Upper Mississippi. Wood engraving, American, 19th century

MISSISSIPPI: FLATBOAT. The Raft. A flatboat on the Mississippi River. Wood engraving, 19th century

MISSISSIPPI: FLATBOAT. Flatboat going down the Mississippi. Wood engraving, 19th century

MISSISSIPPI: FLATBOAT. An early-19th century flatboat on the Mississippi River, traveling from St. Louis to New Orleans in four months. Wood engraving, 19th century

LEONID METEOR SHOWER, 1833. Meteor showers over the Mississippi River of 13 November 1833: wood engraving, 19th century

NEW ORLEANS, 1873. A harbor scene in New Orleans. Color steel engraving, American, 1873

MORMONS EMIGRATING to the Great Salt Lake, Utah, in 1847-48. Wood engraving, American, 1870

MISSISSIPPI: BLACK EXODUS. The wharf at Vicksburg, Mississippi, from which many black migrants departed following the end of Reconstruction for points north and west, including Kansas

FATHER MARQUETTE, 1673. Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet descending the Mississippi River in 1673: engraving, 19th century

AMERICAN STEAMBOAT, 1860. Steamboat from New Orleans to St. Louis, a three-day journey on the Mississippi River. Wood engraving, American, 1860

STEAMBOAT, 1859. The Philadelphia, a Mississippi River steamboat. Wood engraving, American, 1859

FATHER JACQUES MARQUETTE (1637-1675). French Jesuit missionary and explorer in America. Descending the Mississippi River with Louis Jolliet in 1673. Wood engraving, 19th century

NEW FRANCE, 1719. French engraved map with inset plan and view of Quebec and, at the top, an enlargement of the area from the Mississippi River to Pensacola Bay

ST. LOUIS: WATERFRONT. A dredge of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers passing the Gateway Arch on the Mississippi River
ST. LOUIS: WATERFRONT. A dredge of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers passing the Gateway Arch on the Mississippi River waterfront in St. Louis, Missouri. Photographed c1973

ST. LOUIS: SKYLINE. Twilight view of the St. Louis, Missouri, skyline on the Mississippi River. Photographed c1974

MISSISSIPPI STEAMBOAT. Steamboats on the Mississippi River with scenes of African Americans picking cotton, floating on rafts while dancing and playing instruments

NEW ORLEANS, 1851. Birds eye view of the city of New Orleans. Lithograph, 1851

HANNIBAL, MISSOURI, 1869. The birthplace of Mark Twain, showing steamboats and an immense log raft on the Mississippi River. Lithograph, 1869

ST. LOUIS: SKYLINE. Twilight view of the St. Louis, Missouri, skyline, showing the Old Courthouse and adjacent buildings on the Mississippi River. Photographed c1974

MINNESOTA: LAKE PEPIN. Sunrise over the Mississippi River at Lake Pepin, Minnesota. Photographed c1974

MINNESOTA: LAKE ITASCA. A view of the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, at sunrise. Photographed c1974

MISSISSIPPI RIVER: BLUFFS. Bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, viewed at sunrise from Riverview Park in Hannibal, Missouri. Photographed c1974

MISSISSIPPI RIVER: SUNRISE. Photographed c1974

PALMER: MISSISSIPPI, c1862. The Mississippi in Time of Peace. Pencil, watercolor and gouache drawing by Fanny Palmer, c1862

MISSISSIPPI RIVER: SUNRISE. Waters of the Mississippi River reaching flood level at sunrise, near Louisiana, Missouri (Pike County). Photographed c1974

MISSISSIPPI RIVER: SUNRISE. Sunrise over the Mississippi River, Hannibal, Missouri. Photographed c1974

MISSISSIPPI RIVER: FISHING. A man seated between fishing poles beside the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri, near sunset. Photographed c1974

Pre-flood rivers (image 1 of 2). Coloured three- dimensional computer image, based on satellite data, of three US rivers before they flooded

Mississippi Delta, satellite image
Mississippi Delta. True colour Landsat satellite image of the Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana, USA. North is at top. The Mississippi River is seen running from top left into the Gulf of Mexico at

Hernando de Soto, Spanish explorer
Hernando de Soto (c.1496-1542), Spanish explorer and conquistador. Soto left Spain in 1914 to travel to the Indies and find a passage through to China

Native American bark letter, artwork
Native American birch bark letter, artwork. This letter was found above St Anthonys Falls, on the Mississippi River, Minnesota, USA, in 1820

FATHER LOUIS HENNEPIN (1640-1701?). French missionary and explorer in North America. At the Falls of St Anthony, 1680, along the Mississippi. Lithograph, 1905

FLOWER AT SUNSET. A flower on the banks of the Mississippi River at sunset. Photographed c1974

MISSISSIPPI STEAMBOAT, 1926. The steamboat formerly known as the Kate Adams, launched in 1898, photographed on the Mississippi River in 1926

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"The Mighty Mississippi: A Journey Through Time" Step back in time to the year 1870, where a legendary steamboat race took place on the vast expanse of the Mississippi River. The Robert E. Lee and the Natchez embarked on an epic journey from New Orleans to St. Louis, battling against each other's prowess and determination. In an astonishing display of speed and skill, it was the Robert E. Lee that emerged victorious after three days, eighteen hours, and fourteen minutes of intense competition. As we delve further into history, we encounter another remarkable sight along this iconic river - the Sultana paddle steamer making a stop at Helena in 1865. This vessel stands as a testament to the bustling activity that once graced these waters. The Battle of New Orleans also left its mark on this historic waterway when American troops under Major General Andrew Jackson triumphed over British forces during the War of 1812. It was a pivotal moment in American history that forever solidified their control over this crucial trade route. Nature itself has bestowed its wonders upon the Mississippi River too; one such spectacle being a meteor shower illuminating its night sky in 1833. Imagine witnessing shooting stars streaking across this majestic backdrop. Moving forward to 1865, we find ourselves aboard a Louisiana steamboat meandering through bayous by torchlight – an enchanting scene captured beautifully in lithograph form. Fast forward again to Minneapolis in the vibrant 1870s; here lies a city flourishing alongside this great river, with its towering skyline reflecting off its shimmering waters. Paddle steamer Natchez gracefully glides along these currents - an elegant reminder of how vital steamboats were for transportation and commerce during those times. Even amidst conflict, naval battles erupted on these very waters during America's Civil War in 1861 – showcasing both bravery and sacrifice as soldiers fought for their beliefs while navigating treacherous currents. St.