Since the late 18th century, the Mississippi River has played a huge role in forming and connecting the United States. But how did settlers, travelers and their wagons cross the Mississippi throughout history?
In the late 1700s, the only way to get across the Mississippi was to use small boats or rafts, which were slow and cumbersome. Eventually, ferry services began to spring up around the river to transport travelers and their wagons across. These ferries were often operated by individuals and companies that charged fees for their services.
In 1817, a Congressional act granted the state of Mississippi the power to grant “tolls and fees” to individuals or companies who ran ferries across the river. The fees paid by travelers and their wagons allowed for the construction of bridges, which began to be used to span the Mississippi in the early 19th century. Between 1820 and 1850, more than 100 bridges were built over the Mississippi.
These bridges provided a much needed form of transportation for settlers and travelers, who could now cross the river in a fraction of the time compared to a ferry trip. Unfortunately, most of these wooden bridges were prone to collapse and were often destroyed during floods or by ice chunks in the winter.
It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that a safe, reliable way to cross the Mississippi was devised. Engineers and architects began designing steel bridges that could withstand the strong currents and ice of the river. The first of these bridges, known as the Eads Bridge, was built over the Mississippi near St. Louis in 1874.
Bridges, however, weren’t the only way to get wagons across the river. In the late 1800s, steel barges with rail lines were developed for river crossings. Wagons could cross the Mississippi by being loaded onto the barge, pulled across the river, and then offloaded once the barge reached the other shore.
In modern times, both bridges and ferries are still used to cross the Mississippi. Each year, millions of people cross the river by either bridge or ferry, allowing them to experience the beauty of the Mississippi and explore what the Midwest has to offer.
The Role of The Steamboat
The steamboat played a key role in the settlement of the Mississippi River Valley as it enabled larger-scale travel and commerce along the river. With the invention of the steam engine in the early 1800s, steamboats made it feasible to navigate across the entire length of the Mississippi. They allowed for heavier cargo, could complete the journey in a shorter time, and even allowed for comfortable passenger travel. The use of steamboats expanded rapidly over the next few decades and by the mid-19th century, hundreds of vessels filled the river and made river crossings commonplace.
The steamboats allowed not only for transportation of goods and people, but also for freight traffic and mass migration. For example, during the 1850s when thousands of settlers were moving west, steamboats played a major role in this migratory expansion as they carried people over the river.
Steamboats also opened new economic possibilities and were key to the development of the Midwest. They were used to transport goods and supplies to and from towns dotting the banks of the Mississippi, providing the necessary goods to growing cities and spurring economic growth.
But steamboats weren’t without their own challenges. As large, unwieldy vessels, they were prone to boiler explosions and were limited by the shallowness of the river. Nevertheless, the introduction of steamboats ensured easier and faster crossings of the Mississippi for nearly a century and was an important part of the process of settling the American West.
Other Forms of Mississippi River Crossing
In addition to bridges and ferries, settlers and travelers have also used other methods to cross the Mississippi throughout history. For instance, Native Americans used canoes to navigate the river long before white settlers arrived in the area. Some Native American tribes even built dugout canoes for river crossings that were capable of carrying multiple people and cargo at once.
The traditional pole and line technique has also been used to cross the Mississippi. This method requires a person standing on the shore to use a long pole to propel a small raft across the river. This technique is still used today by people who don’t have access to ferries, bridges, or other forms of crossing the river.
The introduction of the automobile in the 20th century also increased the need for larger, more efficient bridges over the Mississippi. By the 1950s, most bridges crossing the river were steel and concrete designs that were able to support automobile traffic and withstand the river’s powerful currents.
In recent years, more and more innovative forms of river crossings have been developed. For instance, cable-stayed bridges have been used to span the river, while underwater tunnels have been built to connect two different states. The development of these structures speaks to the ingenuity of modern engineering and the need to keep finding new ways to cross the mighty Mississippi.
Safety Concerns of Crossing the Mississippi
The safety of crossing the Mississippi has long been a major concern for travelers and located forces alike. The river has proven to be unpredictable, with dangerous currents, shifting water levels, and hidden rocks. Over time, several life-threatening disasters have occurred on the Mississippi, including the infamous Sultana disaster which destroyed the steamboat Sultana in 1865 with the loss of well over 1,500 lives.
To this day, travelers and riverboats are advised to take extra precautions when crossing the river. Boats are recommended to travel in pairs and employ experienced captains to navigate the river’s shifting waters. There are also several government regulations in place to ensure the safety of people and their vehicles while crossing the river.
Those crossing the river in their car by bridge are advised to pay attention to signs along the bridge, which detail the current road conditions, advisories and safety tips. Motorists are also encouraged to drive slowly, obey the speed limit, and use extra caution while crossing bridges.
The Social and Political Impact of Crossing The Mississippi
From the beginning, crossings of the Mississippi were shaped by social and political realities. Over the years, the river has served as both a symbol of the nation’s westward expansion and as a physical barrier between the North and South. This, in many ways, has shaped the course of U.S. history and the trajectory of the nation’s movement westward.
The Mississippi also has been a vital part of the Civil War. During the war, control of the river was hotly contested as Union forces sought to sever the Confederate’s supply line to the West. Consequently, the river was heavily defended with gunboats, fortifications, and other defensive measures on both sides.
The need to control the river was so great, in fact, that a new branch of the U.S. Navy was formed exclusively to protect the river’s western and eastern banks – the Mississippi Squadron. This squadron played a major role in the Union’s ultimate victory and helped ensure that the U.S. was able to maintain control of the Mississippi.
The Mississippi’s Place In America’s History
For more than two centuries, the Mississippi River has been a critical part of American culture, history and politics. From the days of Native American canoe crossings, to modern day bridges and rail lines, the river has always formed the backbone of American culture.
Today, the Mississippi continues to be an important part of U.S. culture and commerce, allowing for the efficient transport of goods and people not just along the river, but also to and from the areas connected by the river. To many, the Mississippi is still the home of the American spirit – a symbol of the nation’s hardy and determined settlers who crossed it in search of a better life.
The story of crossing the Mississippi is part of the larger story of American expansion and its spirit of invention, exploration and determination. Every time we cross the mighty Mississippi, we are reminded of the daring of our forefathers who first made that crossing and the spirit of the nation they helped create.
