Old Man River Trivia Quiz

In northwestern Minnesota there is a glacial lake called Lake Itasca. It is the headwater of the Mississippi River. At this point, the "Old Man River" is just an 18-foot-wide, knee-deep stream of clear water before it begins its 2,340-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. The lake covers 1.7 square miles and is located in a park bearing the same name.

Henry Schoolcraft, an American explorer and scientist, proposed the lake as the source of the Mississippi in 1832. He also is credited for naming it based on the Latin words veritas ("truth") and caput ("head") for "true head" of the river. However, Native American legend has it that the lake is named after I-tesk-ka, the daughter of Hiawatha, whose tears of sadness at being spirited away to the underworld formed the source of the Mississippi.

The St. Croix River is about 170 miles long and starts in northwestern Wisconsin where it then flows south into the Mississippi River. Where it joins "Old Man River" is the state line between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The town of Prescott, Wisconsin sits on one side while Pike Island is on the Minnesota side.

This area holds deep cultural significance for the Dakota people, who call it Bdóte (where two waters meet), and is considered a sacred place of creation. The confluence also marks the site where a visitor can enter the northern gateway to the Wisconsin section of the Great River Road. This is a 3,000-mile National Scenic Byway and All-American Road that follows the course of the Mississippi River for those who prefer to drive rather than ride on a boat.

Part of the National Park Service, Effigy Mounds National Monument is located in Harpers Ferry, Iowa. Located on the bank of the Mississippi River, it contains more than 200 prehistoric mounds built by pre-Columbian Mound Builder cultures, mostly in the first millennium CE. Many of these mounds are shaped as animals such as bears and birds.

Visitors to the area can walk on trails around the preserved mounds. They can also go to a visitor center to learn more about the people who built the mounds and the archeology over the years. Visitors can also hike through the park to view the wildlife and flora of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Finally, they can also view "Old Man River" rolling past the park.

Hannibal is a historic city situated along the Mississippi River in the northeastern part of Missouri. Founded in 1819 by Moses D. Bates, the river town flourished as a principal docking port for steamboats traveling on "Old Man River". Early industries influencing the city's growth include pork packing, soap and candle making, coopering, and milling of lumber.

One of Hannibal's most famous "sons" is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known worldwide as Mark Twain. He was four years old when his family moved here. The area and its citizens were featured in some of his most popular works including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Visitors to the town can still tour Mark Twain's home and the famous Mark Twain Cave.

St. Louis, Missouri, is situated on the western bank of the Mississippi River, just south of the confluence where the Missouri River joins the Mississippi River. This prime location gave it the nickname "Gateway to the West' since it was a vital transportation hub and supply center for westward expansion in the 1800s. Lewis and Clark departed from this city to start their Louisiana Purchase expedition.

One of the main attractions in St. Louis continues to be the Gateway Arch. Located in a National Park, it is a 630-foot-tall stainless steel monument that celebrates the historic westward movement. Visitors can ride an enclosed tram system to the top of the arch for a breathtaking vista of "Old Man River". They can also stroll through a museum or walk around the park and river banks.

Memphis, Tennessee, is located in the southwestern part of the state, situated on the bluffs of the Mississippi River where the borders of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi meet. The city was founded on May 22, 1819 by a group of investors that included Andrew Jackson. It is often called "The Home of the Blues" as it was a key part of the founding of many famous musicians including B.B. King and Johnny Cash. It also has a deep history in Civil Rights and features a museum at the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

Visitors here can wander down Beale Street and listen to music while dining on some world-famous barbeque on the banks of "Old Man River". They can visit Sun Studios where Elvis recorded much of his early music or go tour his home called Graceland. Finally, they can wander over to the huge Memphis Pyramid (in honor of Memphis, Egypt) to shop and tour.

Helena is in the eastern part of Arkansas on the western bank of the Mississippi River. It was founded in 1833 and named after the daughter of an early settler. It was used as a Union fortification site during the Civil War and still has a fort there for touring. Helena is located in the Arkansas Delta which is a fertile, low-lying plain formed by river deposits.

The delta area is know for its flat land, rich soil ideal for agriculture (especially cotton and rice), and its population who have suffered economic hardships. People visiting here can go on fishing excursions, hike along the water trails, or dine on soul food and catfish. They can also check out the Delta Cultural Center which highlights the geographical features of the area and the history of its people who rely on "Old Man River".

Vicksburg is in the western part of Mississippi on a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. It was incorporated in 1825 and later played an important part of the American Civil War. Interestingly, "Old Man River" dramatically changed its course in 1876, abandoning Vicksburg and leaving the city no longer a direct riverfront port. This event was caused by the river eroding through a peninsula in its path and straightening out its curve around the city.

Many people come to Vicksburg to see its National Military Park. Here the Civil War battlefield can be toured and people can learn about the 47 day siege of the city in 1863. When the Confederates surrendered to Gen. Grant, it became one of the turning points of the war leading to a Union victory. Visitors to the park can also view a gunboat, walk the trails through monuments, or tour antebellum homes.

Baton Rouge is located in southeastern Louisiana on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River and is the capital of the state. It got its name when a French explorer saw a red pole ("le baton rouge") in 1699 that delineated the territories of Native American tribes. The city has been under the control of seven different nations and political entities, including France, Great Britain, and Spain, before becoming part of the United States. Because it is on the first natural bluffs along the Mississippi River north of the coastal plains it has been spared much of the area's flooding from "Old Man River".

Visitors can go see the campus of Louisiana State University (LSU) or attend any of its sporting events. They can visit the old state capitol building which is constructed to look like an historic castle. The riverfront offers quite a few venues to see music concerts (indoors or out) and to dine on some Louisiana delicacies such as gumbo and crawfish.

New Orleans is located in the southern part of Louisiana and is on the mouth of the Mississippi River and its delta. It was founded in 1718 by the French and was under various colonial rules until it was sold to the US as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The city was founded along a sharp bend of the Mississippi River, giving it the nickname "Crescent City" and has a unique geographic identity as it sits between "Old Man River" and Lake Pontchartrain. Unfortunately, its location is also ideal for flooding as it sits below sea level.

The culture of New Orleans is a varied blend of French, Spanish, African American, and Haitian influences. This has given visitors a remarkable selection of music and food from which to choose. The city is known as the birthplace of jazz and offers edible delights such as po-boy sandwiches and sugared beignets. And the city opens its doors every year to the Carnival season, which culminates in the massive Mardi Gras celebrations with its myriad of joyous parades.