Atlas Illustrating Report of March 20, 1909, of Board on Examination and Survey of Mississippi River

Reshaping the course of the Mississippi River in the early 20th century.

The 20th century saw dramatic changes to the course of the Mississippi River, from its headwaters in Lake Itasca, MN to the massive mouth in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the National Park Service, “Between 1907 and 1963 most semblances of the natural river would disappear. A series of new locks and dams would reshape the river’s physical and ecological character.”

This atlas, focusing primarily on the course of the river between St. Louis, MO and Cairo, IL, reflects some of those earliest efforts to improve the navigability of the vitally important waterway. In 1907, Congress authorized the dredging of a six-foot channel in the Upper Mississippi, along with several related canal and slackwater management systems.

These projects, along with others, are highlighted within the 52 different lithographed plates contained within the volume. Apart from detailed maps of the river prepared by members of the Army Corps of Engineers, an interesting selection of hydrographs, cross-sections, and other informational diagrams are included.

Published in Washington, D.C. by the Government Printing Office in 1909. Well-represented in institutional collections, but uncommon on the market. Source: National Park Service. ; OCLC# 40723110.