The Mississippi River Basin is the Backbone of the United States, by William B. Stickle

A river that built a nation—and now stands at a crossroads.

Stretching across thirty-two states and two countries, the Mississippi River Basin is more than a waterway—it is the backbone of the United States. In this sweeping exploration, William B. Stickle traces its story from ancient glaciers and Indigenous civilizations to the age of exploration, westward expansion, and modern industry.

Along its banks, cultures were born, economies flourished, and history took shape—from the rise of jazz and blues to the darker currents of the slave trade. Yet as engineering reshaped the river for commerce, new tensions emerged between progress and preservation.

Today, the basin faces unprecedented challenges: pollution, vanishing wildlife, and a disappearing coastline. Through science, history, and firsthand insight, this book reveals the Mississippi not just as it was—but as it is, and what it may yet become.