Events with tag - Engineering History

January 1717

First Mississippi River Levee Built

In 1717, the first levee on the Mississippi River was constructed near New Orleans under the supervision of French engineer Pierre Le Blond de La Tour. This three-foot-high, one-mile-long structure marked the beginning of what would become one of North America's most extensive flood control systems.

April 22, 1855

First Mississippi River Bridge Opens

The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River opened in 1855, connecting Rock Island, Illinois to Davenport, Iowa. This engineering marvel revolutionized American transportation by establishing the first permanent rail connection across the mighty river.

January 1, 1917

First Mississippi River Lock and Dam

The completion of Lock and Dam No. 1 in 1917 between Minneapolis and St. Paul revolutionized navigation on the Mississippi River. This pioneering $2.9 million project introduced innovative engineering features and transformed the unpredictable waterway into a reliable transportation corridor.