Events with tag - Mississippi

January 1, 12001 BC

First Native American Settlements Along Mississippi River

The first Native American settlements emerged along the Mississippi River around 12,000 BCE, establishing the foundation for complex civilizations that would thrive in the region for thousands of years.

January 1, 1000

Choctaw Mississippi River Settlements

The Choctaw people established their first permanent settlements along the Mississippi River around 1000 CE, creating sophisticated networks of villages and trade routes that shaped their cultural identity and marked the beginning of their significant presence in the region.

January 1, 1000

Chickasaw Mississippi River Settlements

The Chickasaw people established their first settlements near the Mississippi River during the late 1600s, building a powerful presence that controlled strategic trading routes and maintained independence until their forced removal in the 1830s.

January 1, 1200

Plaquemine Culture Emergence

The Plaquemine culture emerged as a significant Native American civilization along the Mississippi River around 1200 CE, developing sophisticated architectural practices and complex settlements that transformed the lower Mississippi Valley landscape.

January 1, 1200

Emerald Mound Historic Site

The Emerald Mound, covering eight acres and rising 35 feet high, stands as one of North America's largest prehistoric earthworks. Built by the Plaquemine culture between 1200-1730 CE near Natchez, Mississippi, it served as a major ceremonial center for indigenous communities.

May 8, 1541

Discovery of Mississippi River

Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto became the first European to discover and document the Mississippi River, which he named 'Río del Espíritu Santo' (River of the Holy Spirit), marking a pivotal moment in North American exploration history.

May 8, 1541

De Soto Discovers Mississippi River

Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto became the first documented European to discover the Mississippi River near present-day Memphis, Tennessee. The expedition spent 30 days crossing the mile-wide river with 400 men and 200 horses, marking a pivotal moment in North American exploration.

May 8, 1541

Discovery of the Mississippi River

Hernando de Soto became the first European to officially document the discovery of the Mississippi River, leading to a series of explorations that established crucial trade routes and shaped North American development.

January 1, 1550

Tunica Tribe Settlement on Mississippi River

The Tunica tribe established their first settlements along the Mississippi River in the late 16th century, creating a significant cultural and economic center that would shape the Lower Mississippi Valley's history.

May 17, 1673

Marquette and Joliet Mississippi River Expedition

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet led a historic expedition along the Mississippi River, becoming the first Europeans to systematically explore and document the upper Mississippi. Starting from St. Ignace Mission on May 17, 1673, they traveled over 2,500 miles through present-day Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas.

June 15, 1673

Quapaw Tribe Migration

The Quapaw tribe's historic migration from the Ohio Valley to the Lower Mississippi Valley, establishing significant settlements along the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers. Their arrival marked a crucial period in Native American history, documented by French explorers in 1673.

February 1, 1682

La Salle's Mississippi River Expedition

In February 1682, French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle led a historic expedition down the Mississippi River, becoming the first European to travel from its upper reaches to the Gulf of Mexico. This journey established French claims to the vast Louisiana Territory and transformed North American colonial development.

April 9, 1682

La Salle Claims Mississippi River

French explorer René-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle led a historic expedition down the Mississippi River, culminating in claiming the entire river basin for France on April 9, 1682. This bold declaration established French control over vast territory later known as Louisiana.

May 1, 1720

The Mississippi Bubble

The Mississippi Bubble of 1720 was one of history's first major financial crashes, occurring when John Law's speculative banking scheme and the Mississippi Company's shares collapsed, devastating the French economy.

November 3, 1762

Mississippi River Transfer to Spanish Control

In a pivotal moment of colonial history, France ceded control of the Mississippi River and Louisiana Territory to Spain through the Treaty of Fontainebleau. This secret agreement, signed on November 3, 1762, transferred 828,000 square miles of territory and marked a significant shift in North American colonial power dynamics.

October 1, 1800

Spain Returns Mississippi River to France

Through the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso, Spain returned control of the Mississippi River and Louisiana Territory to France, marking the end of 38 years of Spanish dominance in the region. This secret agreement set the stage for the Louisiana Purchase.

April 30, 1803

Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase was a historic land deal in 1803 where the United States acquired approximately 828,000 square miles of territory from France for $15 million, effectively doubling the size of the young nation. This transaction was negotiated during Thomas Jefferson's presidency and dramatically shaped American expansion westward.

August 9, 1805

Pike's Mississippi River Expedition

Lieutenant Zebulon Pike led a groundbreaking 9-month expedition along the Upper Mississippi River, covering 2,000 miles from St. Louis to northern Minnesota. The journey resulted in crucial mapping of territories, establishment of diplomatic relations with Native tribes, and significant scientific discoveries.

February 1, 1857

Mark Twain's Mississippi River Years

Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, spent crucial years from 1857 to 1861 as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River. This period not only gave him his famous pen name but also provided rich material for his future literary masterpieces.

April 25, 1862

Fall of New Orleans

Union forces led by Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans, the Confederacy's largest city and most important port, after a successful naval campaign that broke through Confederate defenses at Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

July 4, 1863

Siege of Vicksburg

The Siege of Vicksburg, a 47-day military campaign led by Union General Ulysses S. Grant, concluded with Confederate surrender on July 4, 1863, marking a decisive turning point in the American Civil War by securing Union control of the Mississippi River.

March 18, 1864

Sherman's Appointment as Union Army Commander

General William Tecumseh Sherman was appointed commander of the Military Division of Mississippi, including the Army of Tennessee, marking a crucial turning point in the American Civil War. His appointment led to revolutionary changes in military tactics and strategy.

May 26, 1865

Last Confederate Army Surrender

The Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi, commanded by General Edmund Kirby Smith, surrendered at Marshall, Texas, marking the final major Confederate force's capitulation in the American Civil War. This surrender came more than a month after Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

June 23, 1865

Last Confederate General Surrenders

Stand Watie, a Cherokee leader and Confederate brigadier general, becomes the last Confederate general to surrender at Doaksville, Indian Territory. His surrender marks the final organized Confederate military resistance of the Civil War, occurring more than two months after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

February 23, 1870

Mississippi Readmission to Union

After a complex reconstruction period, Mississippi officially rejoined the Union on February 23, 1870, becoming one of the last Confederate states to be readmitted. The state had to meet strict federal requirements, including ratifying constitutional amendments and implementing civil rights protections.

April 16, 1927

Great Mississippi Flood

The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 was one of America's most catastrophic natural disasters, inundating 27,000 square miles across seven states and forcing over 637,000 people to evacuate their homes. The disaster caused $400 million in damage and led to significant changes in federal flood control policies.

May 15, 1928

Mississippi River and Tributaries Project Launch

The Mississippi River and Tributaries Project was initiated through the Flood Control Act of 1928, establishing a comprehensive $325 million flood control system to protect the Mississippi River Valley following the devastating 1927 flood.

October 18, 1972

Clean Water Act and Mississippi River

The Clean Water Act of 1972 marked a pivotal moment in Mississippi River's environmental protection, establishing comprehensive federal regulations for water pollution control and transforming the river's management through strict pollutant discharge limitations.

April 1, 1993

Great Flood of 1993

The catastrophic flooding event that devastated nine Midwestern states, causing over $15 billion in damages and forcing 54,000 people to evacuate. The flood submerged 75 towns and destroyed thousands of homes along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

August 1, 2007

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

The catastrophic collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis occurred during rush hour, killing 13 people and injuring 145. The disaster revealed critical infrastructure failures and led to nationwide changes in bridge safety standards.